In a significant reversal, US federal authorities are reinstating hundreds of health workers who were controversially laid off last year from a key agency dedicated to protecting worker safety.
A Swift and Controversial Gutting
The mass terminations occurred in April 2025 under the administration of then-President Donald Trump. The move effectively gutted the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a small but vital agency where scientists and engineers research ways to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
Close to 900 of NIOSH's 1,000 employees were let go. This drastic action was part of a broader remaking of the federal workforce, spearheaded by then-adviser Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. The decision provoked immediate and fierce criticism from a wide coalition, including firefighters, coal miners, and medical equipment manufacturers.
Legal Pressure Forces a U-Turn
Facing legal challenges and intense political pressure, officials began a partial climbdown last year, bringing back some staff. This included workers essential to a health monitoring programme for miners in West Virginia.
Now, a full reversal is underway. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents NIOSH and parts of the CDC, confirmed that all terminations have been rescinded.
"The administration’s attempt to lay off nearly every NIOSH worker was shameful and illegal, considering that much of NIOSH’s work is required by law," said AFGE national president Everett Kelley in a strongly-worded statement.
Administration Claims Commitment to Essential Services
A spokesman for the US Department of Health and Human Services, Andrew Nixon, confirmed the reinstatements on Wednesday 14 January 2026. In a statement, he said, "The Trump Administration is committed to protecting essential services — whether it’s supporting coal miners and firefighters through NIOSH, safeguarding public health through lead prevention, or researching and tracking the most prevalent communicable diseases."
However, Nixon declined to answer specific questions regarding the number of workers returning, the original rationale for the layoffs, or the reasons for the policy reversal. Officials also noted it remains unclear how many of the laid-off staff have since found other employment or chosen to retire, and thus will not return.
The layoffs had a profound impact on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's overall staffing. By the end of 2025, the CDC had approximately 10,800 full-time workers, representing a 20% reduction from its pre-April 2025 levels.
