New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has authorised the release of approximately 170,000 pages of previously undisclosed city records related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and their aftermath.
The records were made public on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, just days before the 25th anniversary of the attacks. The initial release focuses largely on public health concerns, air quality around Ground Zero and the city government’s response in the aftermath of the attacks.
The documents are being made available through a new public online portal, which city officials said will continue to be updated as additional records are reviewed and personal information is removed.
What Do the Newly Released Records Contain?
Among the documents is the long-sought “Harding Memo,” an internal document sent to then-Deputy Mayor Robert Harding that addressed potential legal liability linked to toxic exposure following the attacks.
The release also includes records from 68 boxes of Department of Environmental Protection documents that were located in 2025, despite earlier requests made under New York’s Freedom of Information Law.
Additional material relates to World Trade Center Building 7, as well as environmental and health conditions around Ground Zero.
The documents are expected to provide further information about what city officials knew about air quality and potential health hazards in the aftermath of the attacks, when they became aware of those risks and how the administration responded.
Release Resolves Long-Running Legal Dispute
The publication of the records also settles two lawsuits that had been filed over several years by the advocacy organisation 9/11 Health Watch.
The organisation had sought access to records relating to the health consequences of the attacks and the city’s response to environmental hazards.
City officials said the new portal will be updated regularly during the next 12 months as more records are reviewed and personally identifiable information is redacted.
The administration expects substantially more material to become available through the process.
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$34 Million Allocated for Records Portal
Mamdani’s administration allocated $34 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget to establish and maintain the records portal.
Dedicated staff from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and New York City Public Schools will also assist New Yorkers in locating documents that could help establish their presence in the affected exposure zone.
This could be particularly significant for survivors, first responders and others seeking access to federal assistance programmes established in response to the long-term health consequences of the attacks.
These include the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, both of which provide support to eligible individuals affected by the attacks and their aftermath.
Mamdani Calls for Transparency and Accountability
Speaking at a City Hall news conference attended by advocates, including comedian and 9/11 activist Jon Stewart, Mamdani said the records could help establish what city officials knew about toxic conditions, when they knew it and how they responded to concerns about potential liability.
The mayor criticised previous administrations for what he described as a failure to release records that New Yorkers had a right to access.
He also argued that people became ill after being reassured that the air around Ground Zero was safe to breathe, making transparency particularly important for survivors and families.
Reports surrounding the release indicate that city officials were aware of hazardous substances, including asbestos and other toxins, in the environment soon after the attacks, even as public assurances about air safety were being issued.
Health Impact Continues Decades Later
The long-term health consequences of September 11 remain a major issue for survivors, first responders and residents who were exposed to conditions around the World Trade Center site.
Statements accompanying the document release noted that the number of people who have since died from illnesses linked to the attacks has surpassed the number killed on September 11 itself.
The newly released records could therefore have significance beyond historical research. They may help affected individuals establish their presence in the exposure zone and provide additional context for understanding the government’s response to the environmental and health risks that emerged after the attacks.
The release comes shortly before the 25th anniversary of September 11, placing renewed attention on the events of 2001 and their consequences that continue to affect thousands of people more than two decades later.
