Victory! NIOSH Staff Reinstated!
Victory! NIOSH Staff Reinstated!
A major workforce reversal has unfolded at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): Layoffs in 2025 affected roughly 90% of NIOSH staff. These layoffs were turned into prolonged Administrative Leave following a judicial challenge. In mid-January 2026, federal authorities officially revoked layoff notices, paving the way for most NIOSH employees - approximately 873 positions - to be reinstated. In addition, Congress passed the FY26 spending package in early-February, which included $366.8 million for NIOSH, including $32 million for Education and Research Centers (ERCs), $30 million for Ag Centers and $11.8 million for Total Worker Health.
This restoration preserves NIOSH’s capacity to conduct frontline research, respirator testing, coal miner health surveillance, and other essential occupational safety and health programs. The reinstatement also signifies bipartisan support for worker protection, with national safety groups like the National Safety Council and union advocates expressing relief and urging continued support for NIOSH’s mission.
While rebuilding full operational momentum may take time, this development ensures that UCSF and the broader occupational and environmental medicine community can continue to engage NIOSH’s expertise in workplace hazard evaluations, preventative research, and evidence-based guidance—key pillars of our shared commitment to safeguarding worker health.