Senators Fetterman, Warner, Kaine, Sanders Question HHS Secretary Kennedy on Decision to Fire Workers Tasked with Protecting Coal Miner Health and Safety

Washington, D.C.– Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), along with Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., pushing back on his decision to gut the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) by firing nearly 900 employees, including almost 300 workers in Pittsburgh. Recent reporting has indicated that these firings include all employees tasked with protecting the health and safety of coal miners.
“According to reports, HHS is laying off approximately 873 employees, or two-thirds, of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),”the senators wrote.“According to a notification provided to AFGE Local 1969, whose federal employee members are being impacted, all employees working on mining safety and health in NIOSH’s Spokane, WA and Pittsburgh, PA, offices are being let go. The NIOSH Pittsburgh Mining Research Division focuses on coal miner safety, and the Spokane Mining Research Division specializes in hard rock mining, and are the two main research hubs for NIOSH’s Mining Research Program. Additionally, reports indicate more than 185 NIOSH employees are being laid off from its Morgantown, WV, office, who also work to protect miner health, among other occupational safety and health activities.”
The senators also highlighted the immediate impacts of this move, explaining that mining communities are already being left without key health services.
They continued,“We also have heard from those who work directly with our miner constituents in these communities that the Enhanced Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program is also being decimated. This program provides direct screening services via a mobile medical unit to miners at no cost. NIOSH also supports clinic sites where screening is done, so miners can understand if they are developing black lung or another condition and be as healthy as possible for themselves and their families.”
In their letter, the senators demanded answers from Secretary Kennedy, questioning how these crucial services will continue with a significantly reduced workforce. The senators requested a written response to the following:

A copy of letter is availablehere.