HHS cuts gut mine-safety research
Roughly two-thirds of NIOSH was laid off, halting black-lung surveillance for coal miners.
Key facts
- Nearly 900 NIOSH staff laid off, about two-thirds of the agency
- Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program halted
- A court injunction later forced reinstatement of some workers
Summary
As part of the HHS restructuring, roughly two-thirds of NIOSH (about 900 staff) were laid off, halting the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program and mobile black-lung screening units. Litigation and a court injunction later forced reinstatement of some black-lung workers.
What happened
Beginning April 1, 2025, the HHS restructuring laid off roughly two-thirds of NIOSH, about 900 staff including some 400 mine-safety researchers, shutting facilities and halting the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program and mobile black-lung screening units. Enforcement cuts and a halted silica-dust rule further weakened protections. After a May 13, 2025 preliminary injunction by Judge Irene Berger, Kennedy said HHS would reverse the firings of 328 NIOSH employees.
Impact on the United States
Stripped the federal early-detection and research infrastructure that protects coal miners, firefighters, and other workers from black lung, silicosis, and occupational disease.
Documented effects
Why this is rated severe
About two-thirds of NIOSH was laid off, halting black-lung surveillance and mobile screening for coal miners; some firings were reversed after a court injunction.
Corrections & updates [3]
Every change to a fact on this page after publication is logged here, newest first.
- CorrectedFigures
The cited sources report that nearly 900 NIOSH workers - about two-thirds - were fired in April 2025 (CNN/KFF Health News) and that about 200 union members at NIOSH's Pittsburgh-area mine-safety research center received layoff notices (WESA). Neither supports "some 400 mine-safety researchers" or facility closures, which are removed. After a May 13, 2025 preliminary injunction by Judge Irene Berger, Secretary Kennedy said HHS would reverse the firings of 328 NIOSH employees.[1][2]
- ClarifiedSource
The Pittsburgh source is 90.5 WESA, a local NPR member station, not NPR itself.[2]
- ClarifiedSeverity rationale
The severity rationale said the programs 'were dismantled, endangering coal miners'; it now describes the documented layoffs and program halts. Severity unchanged.
- Previously
- Federal black-lung detection and mine-safety research were dismantled, endangering coal miners and other workers.
- Now
- About two-thirds of NIOSH was laid off, halting black-lung surveillance and mobile screening for coal miners; some firings were reversed after a court injunction.
Sources [2]
Image: Russell Lee, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)