NIOSH Layoff Notices Revoked — What This Means for Worker Safety

Earlier last week, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirmed a major reversal related to staffing reductions made at the beginning of 2025. NIOSH layoff notices were revoked via emails sent to former agency employees by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The email stated that their reduction in force notifications were “hereby revoked” — a major reversal in one of the most controversial developments in occupational safety policy in recent years.

The email stated that their reduction in force notifications were “hereby revoked” — a major reversal in one of the most controversial developments in occupational safety policy in recent years.

When The First NIOSH Layoff Notices Were Sent

In early 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began executing a sweeping reorganization that included laying off the majority of NIOSH’s workforce, impacting scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff who carry out vital occupational safety research and programs. These changes were part of a broader effort to restructure federal health agencies and reduce staffing levels.

The layoffs drew widespread concern from worker safety advocates, industry professionals, and labor organizations, who warned that cutting the agency’s staffing would weaken crucial programs — including respirator certification, miner health surveillance, and long-standing research initiatives aimed at preventing workplace injuries and deaths.

When asked about this topic in May of 2025, President and CEO of Cardinal Compliance Consultants, Richard Barcum, CIH, CSP, CHMM had this to say, “At Cardinal, we advocate for the reversal of these layoffs and a renewed commitment to preserving and strengthening the protection that every worker deserves.”

The Reversal: NIOSH Layoff Notices Revoked

In January 2026, HHS sent emails to former NIOSH employees stating that their reduction in force (RIF) notices were “hereby revoked,” effectively reinstating hundreds of positions that had previously been eliminated. While the exact number and timing of returns to duty are still being clarified, this marks a significant policy rollback.

Industry voices have welcomed this move. For example, the National Safety Council’s CEO noted that a fully staffed NIOSH is critical for producing the research-based recommendations that prevent workplace injuries and illnesses.

Cardinal’s Vice President of EHS Services Michaela MacRitchie, CSP, CHMM weighed in on this change as well, “As an EHS professional, I have long relied on NIOSH as a trusted, evidence-based resource to support our clients in protecting the health and safety of their employees. It’s great to hear the news of the reversal.”

Why It Matters to Employers & Safety Professionals

NIOSH plays a unique and irreplaceable role in occupational health and safety, including:

  • Conducting research that informs best practices across industries
  • Certifying protective equipment (like respirators) used every day on jobsites
  • Tracking occupational disease trends and emerging hazards
  • Providing training and technical guidance to employers, workers, and regulators

When staffing cuts previously eroded these functions, many in the safety community warned that loss of expertise and reduction in research capacity could leave both employers and workers less protected.

The reversal helps preserve this institutional knowledge and helps ensure that NIOSH can continue its mission.

What We’ll Be Watching Next

While the NIOSH layoff notices have been revoked, questions remain:

  • Will all laid-off staff choose to return?
  • Can NIOSH rebuild the capacity lost during the nine months of workforce reductions?
  • How will the broader HHS reorganization impact the agency’s mission going forward?

We’ll be monitoring these developments and providing updates as more information becomes available.

As always, for any questions regarding workplace safety or compliance, contact Cardinal Compliance Consultants.



from Cardinal Compliance Consultants https://cardinalhs.net/blog/niosh-layoff-notices-revoked/
via Cardinal Compliance Consultants

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