Worker safety agency NIOSH lays off most remaining staff

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) experienced a devastating blow on Friday as nearly all remaining staff members were laid off, leaving essential programs in jeopardy. This second round of layoffs, following an initial wave on April 1, was ordered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., resulting in the gutting of crucial programs ranging from safety equipment approvals to firefighter health initiatives.

NIOSH, a vital arm of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), had already been struggling to function effectively after the initial layoffs. Requests for investigations into firefighter injuries and workplace hazards had ceased, and a CDC plan to assist Texas schools in preventing measles infections had to be abandoned due to the staffing cuts.

Established in 1970 alongside the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), NIOSH plays a key role in providing recommendations to employers and conducting research to support OSHA’s regulations and enforcement efforts. The layoffs affected employees across various programs, including the World Trade Center Health Program, miner safety, and firefighter health. Even workers who had been asked to return temporarily were ultimately included in the latest round of layoffs.

Among the casualties of the layoffs were nurses, scientists, and administrative staff within NIOSH’s World Trade Center Health Program. Furthermore, the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, responsible for approving safety equipment like N95 masks, saw its operations come to a halt. This suspension of work not only impacted the processing of equipment applications but also delayed necessary changes to meet new safety standards.

The consequences of the layoffs extend beyond bureaucratic hurdles, as millions of workers in various sectors rely on NIOSH-approved respirators for their safety. Without the necessary approvals, there is a heightened risk of illness, injury, and even fatalities among these workers.

In response to the layoffs, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced plans to absorb NIOSH into a new agency called the Administration for a Healthy America. Despite assurances that essential services would continue uninterrupted, laid-off workers disputed these claims, highlighting the immediate impact of the staffing cuts.

The termination of NIOSH employees without the opportunity for union negotiations has sparked controversy, especially in light of an executive order by President Trump that revoked collective bargaining rights for unions representing CDC employees. The future of NIOSH and its critical programs remains uncertain as the fallout from the layoffs reverberates through the public health sector.