That the White House instructed EPA officials to downplay the health impact of the World Trade Center contaminants due to 'competing considerations' at the expense of the health and lives of New York City residents is an abomination... [It is] understandable that in the midst of a crisis the White House did not want the EPA to sound alarmist, [but if] the public loses faith that things are safe when the government says so, we'll have done more damage than a pointed statement the week after 9/11 would have.