RFK Jr.’s layoffs expected to gut worker safety agency NIOSH, officials say
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is facing a major restructuring that will result in significant layoffs, according to multiple federal health officials. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ordered a restructuring that will see around two-thirds of NIOSH staff laid off, including approximately 873 employees out of a total of 10,000 workers across the Department of Health and Human Services.
NIOSH, established by Congress in 1970 to focus on worker safety and health, plays a crucial role in investigating workplace outbreaks and injuries. However, recent restrictions on travel and communication imposed after the Trump administration took over have led to a pause in new health hazard evaluation probes by NIOSH.
The planned cuts at NIOSH are expected to impact various teams within the agency, including the office of NIOSH’s director, the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, and branches dealing with miner safety and health. The effective date for these cuts is set for June 30, according to a letter sent to the union representing NIOSH workers.
Despite the impending layoffs, official notices to workers have not yet been received, leaving many employees in the dark about their future. The reorganization plan outlined by Kennedy will see NIOSH combined into a new Administration for a Healthy America, along with other agencies like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
In addition to the changes at NIOSH, several offices are expected to be merged into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the restructuring. This includes the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), which oversees pandemic stockpiles and emergency preparedness efforts. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) team within ASPR is expected to be moved elsewhere as part of the restructuring.
BARDA has funded several projects related to pandemic preparedness, including studies on experimental COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. However, some of these projects have been paused by the Trump administration. It is anticipated that BARDA will be merged with the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a different medical research agency.
The restructuring at NIOSH and other health agencies is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to streamline operations and merge various offices to create more efficient and effective programs. As the details of the cuts continue to unfold, many employees are left uncertain about their future within these federal health agencies.
