Jon Stewart urges the Biden administration to cover radiation exposure for K2 Veterans excluded from the PACT Act, 2021 (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite / AP)
Jon Stewart is urging the Biden administration to address an oversight in the PACT Act, which has excluded coverage for some of the first U.S. troops who responded after the September 11 attacks. These troops were deployed to Karshi-Khanabad, K2, in Uzbekistan, a base contaminated with dangerous levels of uranium.
Special operations forces arrived at K2 three weeks after the 2001 attacks. This former Soviet airbase, used to launch strikes on Taliban targets in Afghanistan, was heavily contaminated with chemical weapons debris, demolished bunkers, missile parts, and highly radioactive uranium powder. The origins of the uranium powder remain unclear, but its presence has caused significant health concerns among K2 Veterans, many of whom have reported complex medical conditions associated with radiation exposure.
Jon Stewart stressed the serious health dangers that these Veterans face by comparing the conditions at K2 to being inside a nuclear bomb and hazardous chemical factory. The PACT Act, signed into law by President Biden in 2022, addressed many health issues for K2 Veterans but did not include coverage for radiation exposure.
Despite years of pleas for assistance, the VA has yet to act, citing ongoing studies and the need for more information from the Pentagon before determining coverage for radiation exposure at K2. VA spokesman Terrence Hayes emphasized the need for a factual rationale to establish presumptive conditions for coverage.
Data reviewed by nuclear fusion specialist Arjun Makhijani revealed that soil samples at K2 showed uranium radiation levels up to 40,000 times higher than natural uranium, and air samples were significantly contaminated. The health risks from this exposure include kidney damage, increased cancer risk, and pregnancy complications.
Former Army Sgt. Matthew Nicholls, part of an environmental health team, documented the high radiation levels at K2 in November 2001. Despite these findings, the military continued using the base for four years, during which over 15,000 troops were stationed there. Contaminants were frequently stirred up by wind and rain, exacerbating exposure risks.
K2 Veteran and former Army Staff Sgt. Mark Jackson has experienced severe health issues since the passage of the PACT Act, none of which have been covered by the VA. Stewart and Jackson are pressing the VA to act faster in addressing these issues. The VA claims to be conducting extensive research to demonstrate radiation exposure, while the Pentagon denies the presence of enriched uranium at the site.
Veterans have taken it upon themselves to organize and collect data on health conditions, with over 1,500 of 5,000 contacted Veterans reporting issues such as cancers, neurological conditions, reproductive system problems, and birth defects.
Jon Stewart, known for advocating for 9/11 responders and Veterans exposed to toxins, believes a small adjustment by VA Secretary Denis McDonough could fulfill the intent of the PACT Act. Stewart emphasizes the urgency, as many K2 Veterans are running out of time, struggling against a system that seems adversarial in providing the benefits and healthcare they have earned.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.