CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan: Cuts to NIOSH would put millions of workers at risk

ALBANY, NY (04/03/2025) (readMedia)-- ALBANY - CSEA is very concerned about deep staffing cuts at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as part of a restructuring ordered by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The cuts would eliminate nearly 900 jobs, or two-thirds of the workforce, as well as entire divisions at the agency, which conducts research on workplace safety and health and making recommendations to prevent work-related injuries and illness. NIOSH has provided lifesaving work since Congress created it in 1970.

"These ill-advised cuts to NIOSH will potentially endanger millions of workers," said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan. "This is not just a budget cut - it's a rollback of decades of worker safety progress putting millions of workers at risk. One of CSEA's top priorities is to ensure that our union members can do their jobs as safely as possible so they can get home to their loved ones. CSEA will continue to monitor the situation and act accordingly."

Here is what NIOSH does for workers:

1. Tests and Certifies Respirators – NIOSH ensures that respirators protect workers from deadly hazards like asbestos, silica, and infectious diseases.

2. Develops Lifesaving Workplace Standards – Many of OSHA's protections (e.g., noise limits, chemical exposure rules) are based on NIOSH research.

3. Investigates Worker Deaths and Hazards – NIOSH runs the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program, which investigates worker deaths to prevent future tragedies.

4. Studies Dangerous Chemicals and Diseases – NIOSH identifies workplace carcinogens and toxic chemicals before they cause widespread harm. Their research has led to protections against lead poisoning, silica, and PFAS chemicals.

5. Protects First Responders and Health Care Workers – NIOSH developed PPE standards for firefighters, paramedics, and nurses. Their research helped protect workers during COVID-19, Ebola, and 9/11 cleanup efforts.

6. Improves Safety for High-Risk Jobs – NIOSH studies injuries and deaths in dangerous jobs like construction, mining, trucking, and agriculture. Their work leads to safer equipment, training, and practices that prevent thousands of injuries every year.

7. Advances Workplace Mental Health and Violence Prevention – NIOSH studies workplace stress, burnout, and violence-especially for social workers, nurses, and teachers. This research helps create solutions to protect workers from assault and mental health crises.

Without NIOSH, workers would lose these essential protections and put millions of workers at risk for injury and death. These cuts will only benefit billionaires who want to create more profits by gutting worker protections.