A federal fund for Sept. 11 victims who became sick or died after exposure to toxic dust has been stymied by the Social Security Administration's failure to turn over key data, according to lawyers and advocates. Since President Trump's second term, the agency has made sweeping cuts, leading to complaints about delayed services. Claimants have waited a year to 18 months for information needed to resolve claims, particularly death cases.

The Social Security Administration's Barton Mackey said the agency is taking 'immediate action' and will provide all current requested earnings data by Wednesday. Congress created the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund in 2010, which relies on Social Security data to assess economic compensation and prevent fraud. The fund has received over 112,000 claims in 15 years, awarding more than $18.5 billion, with 9,800 awards totaling over $1.8 billion in 2025.