1 day Ago By NCPA Staff
Washington, D.C. — On April 8, a group of senators including John Fetterman, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Bernie Sanders sent a joint letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy, Jr. about cuts to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. The cuts are slated to fire nearly 900 employees, including mining health and safety workers in several states.
In Pennsylvania alone, cuts in Pittsburgh will fire 300 workers involved in mining safety. “According to reports, HHS is laying off approximately 873 employees, or two-thirds, of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” the senators wrote. “According to a notification provided to AFGE Local 1969, whose federal employee members are being impacted, all employees working on mining safety and health in NIOSH’s Spokane, Wash.
and Pittsburgh, Pa. offices are being let go. The NIOSH Pittsburgh Mining Research Division focuses on coal miner safety, and the Spokane Mining Research Division specializes in hard rock mining, and are the two main research hubs for NIOSH’s Mining Research Program.
Additionally, reports indicate more than 185 NIOSH employees are being laid off from its Morgantown, W.Va., office, who also work to protect miner health , among other occupational safety and health activities.
” The senators also mentioned that many mining communities have already been left without key health services. The letter continues: “We also have heard from those who work directly with our miner constituents in these communities that the Enhanced Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program is also being decimated. This program provides direct screening services via a mobile medical unit to miners at no cost.
NIOSH also supports clinic sites where screening is done, so miners can understand if they are developing black lung or another condition and be as healthy as possible for themselves and their families.” The senators are demanding answers from Secretary Kennedy and questioning how mining health and safety services will continue with a deeply cut workforce. The senators requested a written response to the following queries: 1.
How many HHS employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety have been fired, put on administrative leave, accepted the deferred resignation program offer, or accepted the VERA/VSIP offer since Jan. 20, 2025? Provide a complete breakdown by agency and position. For each category of employee at each agency, provide information on GS level and veteran status, and clearly state the justification for termination.
Include employees who have since been reinstated or placed on administrative leave, noting that change in status. Please provide the latest data available. 2.
How many HHS employees remain who work on mining health and safety? Please provide a complete breakdown by agency and position. 3. How many additional employees who work in offices that work on mining health and safety do you intend to fire following the announcement made on March 27, 2025? 4.
Provide all analyses conducted prior to the reorganization and firings of HHS employees who work in offices that focus on mining safety and health to determine the immediate and long-term impact these firings will have on programs and activities that those employees are tasked with administering. In particular, provide all analyses relating to 1) ensuring statutory obligations will be met, and 2) the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program. The full letter is available to read on Sen.
Fetterman's website ..
