Nearly all staff at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) were laid off, severely impacting crucial programs such as safety equipment approvals and firefighter health, according to multiple reports. Initial layoffs had already stalled many investigations and halted a CDC initiative to combat measles in Texas, with further job cuts targeting essential roles in the World Trade Center Health Program and personal protective equipment (PPE) approval processes. The layoffs raise concerns about worker safety across various sectors, as the agency’s ability to certify PPE and address health hazards is now compromised.
