FILE - In this October 15, 2014, photograph, coal miners return on a buggy after completing their shift underground at the Perkins Branch Coal Mine located in Cumberland, Kentucky. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

NEW YORK -- As the U.S. grapples with pressing health and safety concerns in the workplace, a drastic reduction in staffing at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has sparked widespread condemnation from various sectors, including firefighters, coal miners, medical equipment manufacturers, and many more.

Estimates indicate that NIOSH, which is headquartered in Cincinnati and is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will lose approximately 850 of its nearly 1,000 employees. This staggering cut includes the agency's director, Dr. John Howard, who has served through three different presidential administrations, highlighting the long-term impact of these layoffs.

The repercussions of these cuts are already being felt, with many critical programs facing suspension or termination. Notably, initiatives such as a firefighter cancer registry and a laboratory responsible for certifying respirators across various industries are now in jeopardy.

Micah Niemeier-Walsh, the vice president of the union representing NIOSH employees in Cincinnati, described the cuts as “a very pointed attack on workers in this country.” This sentiment has resonated with unions across multiple professions, including those representing miners, nurses, and flight attendants. They have voiced their fears that these layoffs will significantly hinder efforts to identify and mitigate workplace hazards.

In response to the cuts, rallies have been organized not just in Cincinnati but in other cities as well, drawing a diverse crowd that includes not only laid-off NIOSH employees but also union members from various professions such as teaching, postal work, and construction. Niemeier-Walsh emphasized the solidarity among workers facing these changes.

One particularly poignant aspect of NIOSH's work is its role in assisting 9/11 first responders who developed chronic illnesses. NIOSH doctors have been instrumental in determining eligibility for the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides care to those affected. Andrew Ansbro, president of a union representing firefighters in New York City, expressed his dismay, stating, “Dismantling NIOSH dishonors the memory of our fallen brothers and sisters and abandons those still battling 9/11-related illnesses.”

Established by legislation signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1970, NIOSH began its operations the following year and has since expanded to include offices and laboratories in eight cities across the United States, including Pittsburgh, Spokane, Washington, and Morgantown, West Virginia. Over its more than five-decade history, NIOSH has conducted pioneering research on a myriad of issues, including indoor air quality, workplace violence, and occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Among its notable contributions, NIOSH identified a new lung disease affecting workers in microwave popcorn factories and played a crucial role in assessing the failures during the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster. Recently, the agency has also been involved in the CDC's efforts to manage infectious diseases, including advising on measures to prevent the spread of measles in hospital settings.

NIOSH’s impact in the mining sector is especially significant, as the agency trains and certifies healthcare professionals to detect black lung disease among miners and offers mobile screenings to assess health conditions. Its commitment to understanding and mitigating occupational hazards has been foundational for labor protection regulations, including a recently issued standard that significantly reduces permissible exposure to harmful silica dust for coal miners.

Research conducted by NIOSH has been shown to save the nation millions each year by reducing workplace injuries and illnesses, subsequently lowering workers’ compensation and other related costs. Tessa Bonney, an expert in occupational health at the University of Illinois at Chicago, pointed out that any interruption to NIOSH's research and recommendations could have far-reaching consequences for the entire workforce.

These staffing reductions are part of a broader upheaval at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which includes a staggering 10,000 layoffs, alongside anticipated reorganization efforts and proposed budget cuts. Nonunionized NIOSH employees, primarily supervisors, were instructed to vacate their offices immediately, while unionized employees received layoff notices detailing their termination timelines.

As the dust settles on these layoffs, Niemeier-Walsh noted the uncertainty surrounding the agency's future operations, stating, “Right now, we are trying to figure out chain of command.” An HHS spokesperson, Andrew Nixon, revealed plans to reorganize NIOSH, merging it into a newly established entity named the Administration for a Healthy America. While HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has indicated that up to 20% of those laid off might be reinstated, details surrounding which specific NIOSH programs would survive remain vague.

Unfortunately, reports from affected employees and their union suggest that nearly all NIOSH programs are facing significant budget cuts or outright elimination. A notable casualty includes the firefighter cancer registry website, which ceased operations due to a lack of IT staff to maintain it. Additionally, ongoing research at NIOSH labs is at risk; for example, a public health analyst noted that numerous laboratory animals used in inhalation experiments may need to be euthanized because of these abrupt layoffs.

The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, a vital NIOSH facility responsible for testing and certifying masks that protect workers from airborne hazards, is also facing closure. Eric Axel, executive director of the American Medical Manufacturers Association, contended that this decision could inadvertently favor foreign manufacturers who export products to the U.S. without adhering to the stringent quality standards that certification entails. He argued, “This decision effectively rewards foreign manufacturers who have not made the same investments in quality and safety while punishing American companies that have built their reputations on producing reliable, high-quality protective equipment.”

Rebecca Shelton, director of policy for the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, a Kentucky-based organization that provides legal assistance to ill coal miners, called the cuts “really devastating.” She noted, “Here in central Appalachia, everybody knows somebody with black lung disease.” Shelton raised concerns about the elimination of NIOSH's programs for coal miners and questioned who would monitor new cases and identify emerging trends, further stressing the importance of NIOSH staff who have long been embedded in the communities they serve.

In her reflections on the deep-rooted connections many NIOSH employees have with their communities, Niemeier-Walsh described how conversations about occupational health and worker protection were a common theme at family gatherings, revealing the agency's long-standing commitment to safeguarding the health of American workers.

— The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.