Trump administration requests temporarily reinstatement of laid-off firefighter and coal mining safety research personnel
A representative from HHS stated that the reprieve has the potential to be made permanent.
TroibNews 
The Trump administration is bringing back some federal employees who were laid off and have been involved in health and safety initiatives for coal miners, firefighters, and survivors of 9/11, according to a Republican senator and the national union of firefighters, as reported on Tuesday.
However, this reinstatement could be temporary, lasting only until June 2, and the long-term future of these programs, which fall under the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), remains uncertain.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mentioned, “it could be a possibility that [certain NIOSH employees] will be brought back permanently.”
NIOSH was affected significantly this month, with a large number of employees laid off during a major reorganization of the federal health department.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. remarked shortly after the layoffs that about 20 percent of employees might be reinstated “because we all make mistakes.” He later indicated the administration might be reconsidering some of the cuts in a post on X, stating, “Firefighter health and safety programs remain a top priority … As the agency continues to streamline its operations, critical services of NIOSH will remain intact.”
HHS has also reinstated laid-off food safety inspectors.
Two NIOSH employees—one recently called back from administrative leave and another whose position was unaffected—revealed to PMG that Human Resources contacted them this week about returning to “close out” their previous work. This work includes tracking cancer rates in firefighters and providing health services to 9/11 survivors. However, the employees emphasized that there was no official documentation about their return, and they requested anonymity due to concerns about retaliation.
“Everyone is very suspicious that this is just being done to create the appearance that HHS is addressing concerns,” one employee stated. “But programs will still be effectively eliminated in June.”
A third NIOSH employee, also speaking anonymously for fear of repercussions, noted that the unit focused on coal industry health and safety “was told to stop using [administrative] leave and come into the office, but their termination dates are still the same,” adding that similar messages were communicated to teams involved in the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program.
This development comes amid considerable bipartisan criticism regarding the Trump administration's decision to lay off tens of thousands of staff from the CDC, NIOSH, and other health agencies, which has halted several programs related to worker safety research.
The International Association of Fire Fighters claimed responsibility for this reversal, stating that the decision to reinstate some employees followed “direct talks” between the union and Kennedy.
IAFF President Edward A. Kelly stated that Kennedy attributed the cuts to misinterpretations by unnamed federal workers and assured that the core functions of teams focused on firefighter health and safety would remain intact.
“It was explained to me that the Reduction in Force ordered by a White House Executive Order was misinterpreted by ‘mid-level bureaucrats,’ and our programs — which Secretary Kennedy assured me were ‘critical’ — would continue,” Kelly wrote.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, representing workers from NIOSH's Morgantown office affected by mass layoffs on April 1, expressed concerns on Tuesday that the reduced programs may not be fully restored.
“They did call some people back, which we're very pleased about,” she acknowledged. “But in terms of the technicalities of permanent [reduction in force], I think that still does loom out there.”
Capito indicated she has met with Kennedy multiple times to voice her opposition to the layoffs and plans to continue advocating until the employees are permanently rehired.
“The cuts to NIOSH, on Black Lung in particular, were very concerning to me, because nobody else does this,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of the research and treatment the agency provides to ill coal miners and expressing cautious optimism that the temporary recall could extend beyond June.
Cathy Tinney-Zara, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 3430, remarked in a statement that while the "reinstatement does not include all impacted employees," it seems to focus on "programs currently in the media spotlight."
"These are undoubtedly vital initiatives, but they are only a portion of the comprehensive, nationwide worker protection mission NIOSH fulfills," Tinney-Zara said.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
However, this reinstatement could be temporary, lasting only until June 2, and the long-term future of these programs, which fall under the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), remains uncertain.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mentioned, “it could be a possibility that [certain NIOSH employees] will be brought back permanently.”
NIOSH was affected significantly this month, with a large number of employees laid off during a major reorganization of the federal health department.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. remarked shortly after the layoffs that about 20 percent of employees might be reinstated “because we all make mistakes.” He later indicated the administration might be reconsidering some of the cuts in a post on X, stating, “Firefighter health and safety programs remain a top priority … As the agency continues to streamline its operations, critical services of NIOSH will remain intact.”
HHS has also reinstated laid-off food safety inspectors.
Two NIOSH employees—one recently called back from administrative leave and another whose position was unaffected—revealed to PMG that Human Resources contacted them this week about returning to “close out” their previous work. This work includes tracking cancer rates in firefighters and providing health services to 9/11 survivors. However, the employees emphasized that there was no official documentation about their return, and they requested anonymity due to concerns about retaliation.
“Everyone is very suspicious that this is just being done to create the appearance that HHS is addressing concerns,” one employee stated. “But programs will still be effectively eliminated in June.”
A third NIOSH employee, also speaking anonymously for fear of repercussions, noted that the unit focused on coal industry health and safety “was told to stop using [administrative] leave and come into the office, but their termination dates are still the same,” adding that similar messages were communicated to teams involved in the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program.
This development comes amid considerable bipartisan criticism regarding the Trump administration's decision to lay off tens of thousands of staff from the CDC, NIOSH, and other health agencies, which has halted several programs related to worker safety research.
The International Association of Fire Fighters claimed responsibility for this reversal, stating that the decision to reinstate some employees followed “direct talks” between the union and Kennedy.
IAFF President Edward A. Kelly stated that Kennedy attributed the cuts to misinterpretations by unnamed federal workers and assured that the core functions of teams focused on firefighter health and safety would remain intact.
“It was explained to me that the Reduction in Force ordered by a White House Executive Order was misinterpreted by ‘mid-level bureaucrats,’ and our programs — which Secretary Kennedy assured me were ‘critical’ — would continue,” Kelly wrote.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, representing workers from NIOSH's Morgantown office affected by mass layoffs on April 1, expressed concerns on Tuesday that the reduced programs may not be fully restored.
“They did call some people back, which we're very pleased about,” she acknowledged. “But in terms of the technicalities of permanent [reduction in force], I think that still does loom out there.”
Capito indicated she has met with Kennedy multiple times to voice her opposition to the layoffs and plans to continue advocating until the employees are permanently rehired.
“The cuts to NIOSH, on Black Lung in particular, were very concerning to me, because nobody else does this,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of the research and treatment the agency provides to ill coal miners and expressing cautious optimism that the temporary recall could extend beyond June.
Cathy Tinney-Zara, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 3430, remarked in a statement that while the "reinstatement does not include all impacted employees," it seems to focus on "programs currently in the media spotlight."
"These are undoubtedly vital initiatives, but they are only a portion of the comprehensive, nationwide worker protection mission NIOSH fulfills," Tinney-Zara said.
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
