Full Breakdown
25 Years After 9/11: Families Press for Funding, Trials and Accountability
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Families of the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks are lobbying Congress for additional relief from the United States Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism (USVSST) Fund and pursuing two legal avenues: a civil lawsuit against Saudi Arabia under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) and a military tribunal for al-Qaida mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-defendants. The fiscal deadline for new appropriations to the USVSST Fund is September 30, and a federal appeals panel will hear the Saudi lawsuit later this month. A military judge has set a trial date of June 5, 2028 for the Guantánamo detainees.
Background & Context
Congress created the USVSST Fund in 2015, allocating more than $10 billion to over 22,000 claimants. The fund’s solvency expired in 2024, prompting a bipartisan bill (H.R. 9795) that would loan $3 billion annually for fiscal years 2027-2029.
JASTA, passed in 2016 after Congress overrode President Obama’s veto, allows U.S. courts to hear civil suits against foreign sovereigns for terrorism-related harms. Plaintiffs allege Saudi officials facilitated the first two hijackers, Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, by providing apartments, driver’s licenses and cell phones in Southern California.
The military trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-described architect of the attacks, has been repeatedly delayed. A 2024 plea-deal that would have spared the death penalty was later voided, and the 2028 trial date remains subject to further motions.
Data & Statistics
- Nearly 3,000 people killed on 9/11, including seven women from Natick’s TJX Companies.
- 19 hijackers; 15 were Saudi nationals.
- Over 400 first-responders died, and thousands of survivors have later died from related illnesses.
- The USVSST Fund has assisted over 22,000 victims with $10 billion in payments.
Official Statements & Responses
- White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told ABC News that “President Trump is leading the most transparent administration in history, and his team is working diligently to identify records that are responsive to these families’ request.”
- President Donald Trump, speaking at a 2025 ceremony, asserted that “as far as this gentleman is concerned, he’s done a phenomenal job,” referring to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Mike Casey of Wellesley, who lost his wife Neilie, said, “We’ve just been waiting for so long.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The Department of Justice’s acknowledgment of insufficient USVSST funds contrasts with lawmakers’ claim that the fund has already provided a “lifeline” to victims.
- Families cite missing phone records of Saudi national Omar al Bayoumi as crucial evidence, yet the Public Interest Declassification Board has not yet released them.
Timeline
- July 24 2024 – Attorney Gavin Simpson testified that Saudi officials executed a “carefully formed, meticulous plan” supporting the hijackers.
- September 30 – Fiscal deadline for Congress to fund the USVSST Fund.
- Later this month – Appeals Court hearing on the Saudi lawsuit (Second Circuit, New York).
- June 5 2028 – Military tribunal scheduled for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and co-defendants.
What’s Next
- Congress must act before September 30 to restore funding for the USVSST Fund.
- The appeals panel’s decision later this month will determine whether the Saudi lawsuit proceeds to trial.
- The military tribunal set for June 5, 2028 will address the pending charges against the Guantánamo detainees, pending resolution of evidentiary disputes.
