National COSH Denounces Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Move to Dismantle NIOSH

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) strongly condemns the reckless decision by the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to gut the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), one of the most critical federal agencies responsible for protecting workers on the job.

As part of a dangerous restructuring plan, at least two-thirds of NIOSH staff are expected to be laid off—jeopardizing essential research, education, and standards that save lives every single day. This move is a devastating blow to American workers, especially low-wage, immigrant, Black, and Latino workers already facing the highest rates of fatality and injury on the job.

NIOSH: A Lifesaving Legacy Under Attack

Created by Congress in 1970, NIOSH exists for one reason: to prevent workers from getting sick, injured, or killed at work. From investigating deadly outbreaks—like the 2023 fungal infection that shut down a Michigan paper mill—to developing science-backed safety standards, NIOSH is a lifeline for millions of workers across all industries.

NIOSH plays a key role in:

• Conducting research on toxic exposures, heat stress, workplace violence, and injury prevention;
• Developing safety standards that inform OSHA policies, such as protections from asbestos and silica dust;
• Publishing multilingual safety materials for workers in high-risk sectors; and
• Funding education and training programs—including vital initiatives led by local COSH groups.

Without NIOSH, workers lose the science, education, and infrastructure that helps them return home safely every day.

The Consequences: More Death, More Injury, Less Accountability

Workplace injuries and fatalities are already far too common—and the dismantling of NIOSH threatens to make a broken system even worse. Currently, working Americans already face harsh conditions:

• A worker dies every 99 minutes;
• Black and Latino workers suffer disproportionately;
• The Latino fatality rate is4 per 100,000 (vs. 3.5 average);
• Private industry employers reported6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2023;
• Over 8,900 severe injuries were reported to OSHA in 2023; and
• 33,890 heat-related illnesses were reported between 2011-2020.

NIOSH provides the evidence and tools to prevent these tragedies. Gutting it sends a clear, cruel message: corporate profits matter more than human lives.

“NIOSH reports in multiple languages are crucial,” said Jessica E. Martinez, executive director, National COSH. “They ensure all workers—regardless of their language proficiency—can understand and act on safety information. Eliminating these resources means more injuries, more deaths, and more suffering.”

An Attack on Worker Protections—and an Unchecked Gift to Corporations

The dismantling of NIOSH by Secretary Kennedy is not just bad policy—it’s a betrayal. It destabilizes a cornerstone of occupational safety, undercuts OSHA’s ability to set effective standards, and silences vital research that exposes dangerous working conditions.

Without NIOSH, workers lose access to critical education, protections, and life-saving data—especially those most vulnerable to harm. This is not restructuring. It is erasure.

National COSH: Standing with Workers, Fighting for Justice

National COSH and its nationwide network of local affiliates will not stand by silently. We are doubling down on our mission to protect workers, expose unsafe conditions, and demand that NIOSH be fully funded and restored.

We call on Congress, labor leaders, and the American public to speak out now. Demand the reversal of this reckless decision. Workers deserve safety—not silence.

For more information, visit https://nationalcosh.org.