NYC Launches Probe Into Mayoral Knowledge of 9/11 Toxic Dust
The Department of Investigation has hired outside counsel to examine what city administrations knew about Ground Zero air quality risks.
New York City's Department of Investigation (DOI) has initiated a probe into what previous mayoral administrations understood regarding the toxic dust and air quality risks following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The agency has contracted with the law firm Epstein Becker & Green to conduct this investigation, which will span the administrations of Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio, and Eric Adams.
The inquiry stems from a City Council resolution passed in July 2025, which mandates the DOI to investigate the knowledge possessed by mayoral administrations concerning environmental toxins from the World Trade Center attacks. The DOI has been allocated $3.81 million over two years for this fact-finding mission.
Environmental activists have long contended that city officials misled the public about the health hazards associated with the air at Ground Zero in the aftermath of 9/11. In the lead-up to the 25th anniversary of the attacks, the administration of Mayor Eric Adams released approximately 170,000 pages of documents. Among these were records indicating that city officials were aware of potential health risks as early as October 2001. These documents are now accessible through an online portal.
Michael Barasch, an attorney representing numerous individuals in the World Trade Center Health program, suggested that the investigation might not lead to significant legal repercussions for the city. He pointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's declaration on September 18, 2001, that the air was safe, which he believes provided legal protection to the city. However, Barasch emphasized that many people continue to suffer from 9/11-related illnesses and seek to understand the extent of official knowledge at the time.
"I don’t think Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg knew the air was unsafe. They went back to work," Barasch stated. "I don’t think the mayors knew — but the [city] Law Department knew. Why did they hide the information that the air was unsafe?" He added that this pattern of secrecy seemed to persist across multiple administrations.
Barasch recounted returning to his downtown office after authorities deemed the air safe, noting, "The air reeked." He commended Mayor Adams for making the relevant documents publicly available.