The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has laid off nearly all remaining staff, effectively gutting the agency responsible for safeguarding American workers. This follows a previous round of layoffs in April, ordered by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which eliminated two-thirds of NIOSH’s workforce. It has been reported that the latest cuts leave critical programs severely understaffed or entirely inactive.

Consequences of this decision will be felt in public and private sector workplaces alike, with nonunionized workers most severely affected.

Cuts to NIOSH will slow or halt workplace safety assessments, which means workers in schools, hospitals and public works could wait months for help identifying toxic exposures.

There will be reduced access to occupational health research. Without NIOSH studies, unions and state agencies lose trusted data on long-term risks, making it harder to push for protective rules.

We have fewer tools for preventing injuries. Programs that develop safety guidelines could be paused, increasing injury risks on the job.

There will be a slower response to new threats like wildfire smoke or a chemical spill. Lack of coordinated guidance leaves frontline workers in public facilities or emergency response roles exposed.

There will also be a loss of training and support for safety organizations. NIOSH helps fund training resources that union safety reps rely on; without them, it’s harder for CSEA locals to stay informed and advocate effectively for safer workplaces.

I’m sick to my stomach over this. The destruction of NIOSH is not just a bureaucratic decision, it’s a full-scale attack on the health and safety of America’s workers. Without NIOSH, we lose the agency that tests our respirators, protects our first responders, and investigates workplace deaths so they don’t happen again. 

Make no mistake: this is not about fiscal responsibility. It’s about sacrificing worker protections to pad corporate profits. 

The recent layoffs jeopardize not only the health of CSEA’s 250,000 members across New York but also millions of workers nationwide. These cuts will benefit only those seeking to erode worker protections in the name of profit.

CSEA stands firmly against these cuts and will fight to ensure that our members—and all workers—remain protected on the job. We will continue monitoring developments closely and remains committed to protecting worker safety with or without federal leadership.

Learn more about what NIOSH does at www.cseany.org/news-releases.

Mary E. Sullivan
President, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)
Albany, NY