NYC Denies 9/11 Ground Zero Toxin Records Request, Advocates File Lawsuit

Attorneys say city is withholding critical data on Ground Zero exposure despite uncovering related documents

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:40pm

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A cinematic painting of a lone, weathered file cabinet in a dimly lit government office, with warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the city's resistance to releasing 9/11 exposure data.As the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the city's continued resistance to releasing critical records on Ground Zero toxins exposes an enduring lack of transparency.NYC Today

New York City has denied another request for data about the toxins that swirled above Ground Zero after 9/11, claiming nothing could be found, despite the discovery of 68 boxes worth of information on the subject just four months ago. Advocates for 9/11 survivors are again suing for the data, accusing city officials of playing 'hide and seek' with people's lives.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing battle between 9/11 survivors and the city of New York over access to critical records about the toxic exposure at Ground Zero. Despite previous discoveries of relevant documents, the city continues to deny requests, raising concerns about transparency and accountability around the health impacts of the 9/11 attacks.

The details

Attorneys Andrew Carboy and Matthew McCauley, representing 9/11 illness victims' families and the 9/11 Health Watch advocacy group, filed a new lawsuit against the city on Sunday. This comes after the city closed a 2023 Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request and two subsequent appeals, claiming no responsive records could be found. However, the lawsuit states that just four months ago, the city's Department of Environmental Protection produced 68 boxes of related materials after previously denying their existence.

  • In February 2026, the city denied the latest FOIL request and appeals.
  • In March 2026, the new lawsuit was filed against the city.
  • The 25th anniversary of 9/11 is coming up in five months.

The players

Andrew Carboy

An attorney representing 9/11 survivors and the 9/11 Health Watch advocacy group.

Matthew McCauley

An attorney representing 9/11 survivors and the 9/11 Health Watch advocacy group.

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City.

Steven Banks

The incoming Corporation Counsel who testified about reviewing 9/11-related documents.

Benjamin Chevat

The executive director of 9/11 Health Watch.

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What they’re saying

“Mayor Mamdani can still be the one, after 25 years, who answers the question: what did the city know about the hazards caused by the toxic chemicals at Ground Zero, and when did it know it?”

— Benjamin Chevat, Executive Director, 9/11 Health Watch

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to order the city to produce the requested records.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing struggle for transparency and accountability around the health impacts of the 9/11 attacks, as survivors and advocates continue to fight for access to critical data that the city has repeatedly denied or claimed does not exist, despite evidence to the contrary.