Complete Reversal of NIOSH Layoffs
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has completely reversed course on its controversial decision to lay off nearly 1,000 employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This announcement marks a significant victory for federal employees, unions, and lawmakers who fought relentlessly against the mass terminations.
HHS Press Secretary Emily Hilliard confirmed the department rescinded all reduction-in-force (RIF) notices sent to NIOSH employees. In an official statement, she emphasized that “under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, the nation’s critical public health functions remain intact and effective.”
Administration’s Commitment to Essential Services
“The Trump Administration is committed to protecting essential services — whether it’s supporting coal miners and firefighters through NIOSH, safeguarding public health through lead prevention, or researching and tracking the most prevalent communicable diseases,” Hilliard stated. “Enhancing the health and well-being of all Americans remains our top priority.”
Background on the Reduction in Force
Last April, HHS sent reduction-in-force notices to approximately 1,000 employees at the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH, which operates as a critical workplace safety agency within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, focuses on developing and implementing workplace safety and health standards across various industries.
The initial layoff notices targeted approximately 90% of NIOSH’s total staff, threatening to essentially dismantle an agency responsible for protecting American workers nationwide. This dramatic workforce reduction raised immediate concerns among public health experts, labor unions, and congressional representatives about the future of workplace safety research and enforcement.
Partial Reinstatement Timeline
Initial Reversal in May
According to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the department initially “reversed course completely” on Tuesday by revoking all remaining layoff notices sent to NIOSH employees. However, this followed an earlier partial reversal.
Last May, after experiencing significant pressure from unions and receiving bipartisan pushback from lawmakers, HHS partially reversed course and reinstated 328 of the 1,000 terminated NIOSH employees. These reinstatements specifically brought back NIOSH employees working in critical programs, including:
- Coal mining research programs in Ohio and West Virginia
- World Trade Center Health Program supporting 9/11 first responders
- Specialized workplace safety divisions conducting unique research
The Nine-Month Limbo Period
Micah Niemeier-Walsh, a NIOSH employee and vice president of AFGE Local 3840, described the challenging period federal scientists endured. “My coworkers are so dedicated, and they would rather have just been working. They didn’t know, every day, am I going to get terminated tomorrow? It wasn’t nine months of a vacation. It was nine months of limbo and uncertainty,” she explained.
Laid-off NIOSH employees spent approximately nine months on paid administrative leave, preventing hundreds of federal scientists from conducting their essential workplace safety research. Ongoing lawsuits prevented some agencies from finalizing employee layoffs during this period.
Union and Congressional Advocacy Efforts
AFGE’s Relentless Campaign
NIOSH employees represented by AFGE demonstrated extraordinary persistence throughout this ordeal. They met repeatedly with lawmakers, organized rallies, and maintained constant pressure calling for their colleagues to be brought back on the job.
“We still have a long road ahead of us. We have a lot of rebuilding to do,” Niemeier-Walsh said following the announcement. “It’s going to take some time to get projects moving again.”
AFGE National President Everett Kelley issued a statement Wednesday emphasizing that NIOSH is a “small but vital federal agency” that helps prevent employee injuries, illnesses, and deaths at workplaces nationwide.
Congressional Support and Pressure
During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing last May, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairwoman of the labor, health and human services, education, and related agencies subcommittee, expressed concern about the workforce reduction.
“While your action last week was a good step, there are still other divisions within NIOSH with specialized staff who conduct essential, unique work,” Capito told HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during the hearing. “I support the president’s vision to right-size our government, but I don’t think eliminating NIOSH programs will accomplish that goal.”
Impact on Workplace Safety Research
Even after the partial reinstatements in May, NIOSH employees reported that most of the agency’s programs remained too understaffed to fully function. The extended uncertainty disrupted ongoing research projects, delayed critical workplace safety studies, and threatened programs that protect some of America’s most vulnerable workers.
Critical Programs Affected
The layoffs threatened several essential NIOSH programs:
- Coal miner safety research and black lung disease prevention
- Firefighter health and safety protocols
- Construction industry safety standards
- Manufacturing workplace hazard identification
- Emergency responder health monitoring
Future Outlook for NIOSH Operations
Rebuilding Organizational Capacity
“The administration’s attempt to lay off nearly every NIOSH worker was shameful and illegal, considering that much of NIOSH’s work is required by law,” Kelley emphasized in his statement.
The full reinstatement allows NIOSH to resume its congressionally mandated responsibilities and rebuild its organizational capacity after nine months of disruption.
Broader Context of Federal Workforce Reductions
Last October, HHS sent RIF notices to nearly 1,000 employees — including some CDC employees — during the recent government shutdown. However, those RIFs were put on hold by a federal judge’s order. The current continuing resolution blocks those layoffs at least through January 30.
The complete reversal of NIOSH layoffs represents a significant development in ongoing debates about federal workforce management and the preservation of essential public health functions.
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