Retired FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Miller, who was part of the evidence response team at the Pentagon crash site on September 11, 2001, is now battling multiple forms of cancer attributed to his exposure to toxic debris from the attack.
Miller, who previously investigated al-Qaeda-related incidents including the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Africa and the USS Cole bombing in 2000, was among the first responders at the Pentagon wreckage. He spent weeks at the site, working both day and night shifts to recover evidence from the burned structure. At the time, proper personal protective equipment, including masks, was not readily available.
A Personal Health Fight
More than two decades later, Miller is experiencing the long-term health consequences faced by many FBI personnel and other first responders. The FBI reports that over 30 personnel have died from illnesses linked to exposure at 9/11 sites. Miller stated he personally knew at least a dozen of them, citing the case of fellow agent Bob Roth, who died of multiple myeloma in 2008.
In 2024, Miller was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he initially believed he had overcome after successful treatment. However, the cancer returned, and he is now dealing with kidney cancer, lung cancer, and tumors on his spine and in his brain. "We're praying every day -- our faith got stronger because we have to," Miller said.
Advocating for Change
Despite his ongoing health battles, Miller is actively advocating for modernization of the World Trade Center Health Program. He believes the program's screening policies, established in 2014, need to be updated to incorporate advancements in cancer detection technology. Miller argues that more comprehensive and timely screenings could have identified his returning cancer sooner, providing a significant advantage in his fight.
FBI Deputy Director Christopher Raia acknowledged the need for improved detection and care for 9/11 responders. "We do need to figure out better ways to not only detect this, better tests, better care as folks age and maybe these things start to metastasize in their body," Raia stated, vowing to champion support and care for those affected.
Miller, reflecting on his service, indicated that he and his colleagues would respond to similar crises again, despite the personal cost. "I can almost guarantee that every agent, special agent and professional support that I know of would do it again," he said.