Federal Government Reinstates Hundreds of NIOSH Employees

In March 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its intent to cut close to 900 staff members at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), one of several federal agencies falling under the HHS umbrella.

The proposed layoffs were part of an a restructuring plan that would consolidate 28 HHS divisions into 15 units, and was slated to include employees from the National Personal Protective Technology Library and NIOSH’s miner safety and health branches.

Roughly one month later, however, close to 400 NIOSH employees were brought back on board.

Now, it appears that hundreds more laid off NIOSH workers have been formally reinstated.

As Inside Medicine reported, HHS recently sent emails informing affected NIOSH employees that their reduction in force notifications had been revoked.

“You previously received a notice regarding the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) reduction in force,” read the email, which bore the subject line, “Rescission of Previous Notice of Reduction in Force.”

That notice “is hereby revoked; you are not affected by the RIF and remain employed in your position of record,” according to the email, which also advised recipients to direct any related questions to their immediate supervisor.

While the exact number of affected NIOSH employees received the email is unknown, NIOSH leadership estimated that more than 400 workers were reinstated, according to Inside Medicine.

Allies of NIOSH applauded the move.

Calling the reinstatement “a welcome surprise,” AIHA CEO Lawrence Sloan said in a statement that the organization’s board, staff and members were “delighted that the dedicated scientists at NIOSH are being brought back to resume their crucial work.”

NIOSH “is the world’s foremost research agency for occupational and environmental health and safety, and its loss would be devastating for workers everywhere.”

In a statement, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National President Everett Kelley described the attempt to lay off hundreds of NIOSH employees as “shameful and illegal,” adding that “much of NIOSH’s work is required by law.

“As the union representing these dedicated public servants, we are grateful that their jobs have been restored,” Kelley added, “and we will continue fighting to ensure NIOSH has the resources and support it needs to serve the American public.”