NIOSH Reinstates Over 100 Workers After Federal Court Halts Layoffs

More than 100 employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have been permanently reinstated following layoffs tied to a controversial federal restructuring plan under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The reinstatement came after a federal court issued an injunction ruling the layoffs illegal, with bipartisan political advocacy from figures like Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Rep. Chris Deluzio playing a key role. The layoffs had threatened critical programs such as the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program and NIOSH's respirator certification system, which is vital for worker safety across industries including mining, firefighting, and healthcare. Labor unions and workplace safety groups have sued the Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reverse the dismantling of NIOSH, citing the risk to worker health and safety. While some workers, like respirator certification staff, have been reinstated, others, particularly mining research workers, remain at risk of termination. The reinstatement is seen as a significant victory for protecting worker health and safety programs, but efforts continue to fully restore NIOSH's workforce and services.