WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration is letting go of its World Trade Center health czar.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says its director met Thursday with John Howard and told him his term wouldn't be extended as director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Howard held that post for six years, and two years ago he became the Bush administration's point person for post-Sept. 11 health issues.
Advocates had said Howard's departure would jeopardize efforts to establish a federal monitoring and treatment program for ground zero workers who say they were sickened by World Trade Center dust.
The CDC says Howard will stay in office until July 14. Associate director Christine Branche will become acting director until the administration names a replacement.
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