Ailing U.S. nuclear workers who built the country’s arsenal are left in limbo as the Trump administration suspends review boards tasked with processing their medical compensation claims.
At a Glance
- Over 700,000 individuals have worked at U.S. nuclear weapons or uranium enrichment sites since World War II.
- The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000 authorizes lump‑sum payments and medical coverage for eligible nuclear workers.
- Since its inception, more than $25 billion in compensation has been paid to approximately 141,000 workers.
- The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health, responsible for reviewing claims, was suspended indefinitely on January 27, 2025, by the Trump administration.
- Without renewed Executive Orders, the board could be permanently wound down as early as September 2025.
Suspension Puts Workers on Hold
Steve Hicks, a 70-year-old retired machinist from the Y‑12 National Security Complex, now battling two cancers and nerve damage, faces stalled compensation as the review board, entangled in administrative delays, cannot move forward on claims—even those already in process.
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The CDC confirmed the indefinite pause, citing “outstanding administrative requirements,” while the Trump White House declined comment. The board has not convened since December 2024 and members say they’ve received no communication from federal officials since the suspension.
A Program at Risk
The compensation program, enacted in 2000, awards up to $150,000 and lifelong health coverage to affected nuclear workers diagnosed with cancers linked to radiation exposure. To date, more than $25 billion has flowed to 141,000 workers through this process.
Since the January 2025 suspension, the board has ceased reviewing new petitions, including several thousands‑strong claims ready for submission—such as Hicks’s and those prepared by advocates like Denise Degarmo, who represents workers from sites including the Pinellas plant.
Human Toll and Uncertain Future
Former board members say they have continued submitting billing records despite having no scheduled meetings or directives. The uncertainty has created a backlog with no recourse, halting the approval of both new and pending claims.
Advocates warn that without immediate administrative action to reconstitute the board, the pause could become permanent. The executive order enabling the board expires in September 2025, and without Trump’s renewal, the structure could be legally dismantled—leaving sick workers without any formal path to compensation.
Sources
Reuters
Associated Press
United Steelworkers
Wired
Wikipedia
