New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration released an additional 40,000 records related to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Oct. 21, expanding public access to documents concerning the city’s response and post-attack air quality concerns.
The documents are available through the city’s public records portal at nyc.gov/sept11docs, which now contains more than 200,000 pages. The collection includes the Harding Memo and materials known as the “68 Boxes.”
The release is the second installment under a court agreement between the city and 911 Health Watch, an advocacy organization that has sought the records for years. The city’s fiscal 2027 budget includes $34 million for the portal’s creation and maintenance.
“For decades, families of 9/11 victims, 9/11 survivors, first responders and advocacy groups had to fight municipal bureaucracy to get the transparency they deserved,” said Corporation Counsel Steven Banks. “Today, we are expanding on our commitment by making tens of thousands of additional documents regarding the city’s response to September 11 available to the public.”
The records could help survivors, first responders and families better understand what city officials knew about potential health hazards around the World Trade Center site and when they knew it.
Thousands of people who worked or lived near Ground Zero were exposed to dust and debris after the attacks, and many later developed serious illnesses. The documents may also inform public understanding of government decisions during the recovery and the handling of environmental health risks.
The latest release follows the portal’s launch in September, when the administration published about 170,000 pages of records. The documents cover the city’s response to the attacks, including air quality and health concerns.
911 Health Watch executive director Benjamin Chevat has said an initial review raised concerns about how authorities responded after hazards were identified. The newly released records have yet to be fully assessed, and their contents should be evaluated as they are reviewed.
Additional documents are expected to be published in the coming months as the city continues locating, reviewing and scanning records. Survivors, researchers, journalists and members of the public can access the available documents through the online portal.
The continuing release aims to improve transparency around the city’s response to one of the most consequential events in New York City history.
