The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was set to lose 90 percent of the agency's workforce.

But a federal lawsuit brought by a coal miner and a push among some members of Congress might have prompted the Department of Health and Human Services to reinstate some programs.

NPR reports that 328 employees at NIOSH were reinstated, according to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr., who was questioned about the layoffs during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

The rehired workers were based at NIOSH facilities in Morgantown, W.Va., and Cincinnati, as well as at the World Trade Center Health Program.

The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) released a statement saying the decision marks a major win for occupational safety in the United States and reaffirms the critical role NIOSH plays in protecting America’s workforce.

“This is not just a win for NIOSH — it’s a win for every worker who depends on science-backed safety standards to do their job and come home safe,” said Cam Mackey, President and CEO of ISEA, in the release. “From firefighters to healthcare workers, from industrial crews to military responders, today’s news ensures the programs that protect them remain strong.”

“NIOSH’s respirator approval program isn’t just a bureaucratic process — it’s a life-saving measure that gives first responders confidence in the gear they rely on in hazardous environments,” said Dan Glucksman, ISEA’s Senior Director of Policy. “We applaud the Administration for recognizing the importance of preserving this essential function.”

ISEA launched an advocacy campaign to protect NIOSH, conducting direct outreach to Congress and federal agencies and coordinating with stakeholders.

“While this is one step forward, it’s a significant one,” Mackey said in his statement. “ISEA looks forward to our continued work with Rep. Summer Lee’s (D-PA) office to fund the NIOSH respirator approval program in FY26 to make sure its future remains secure. We also want to thank Congress, the White House and Sec. Kennedy for hearing our concerns and acting on them”