NIOSH Faces Uncertain Future as AIHA Pushes for Funding Restoration
NIOSH faces deep funding cuts that threaten critical worker safety programs as AIHA ramps up a nationwide advocacy campaign to restore support and preserve the occupational health ecosystem.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jul 30, 2025
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is ramping up efforts to restore funding for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) after the agency’s 2026 budget request from the administration slashed core funding to just $73 million—a dramatic drop from its typical $360 million annual budget.
The cuts leave only three programs funded: mining research ($66.5 million), the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer ($5.5 million), and the National Mesothelioma Registry and Tissue Bank ($1.2 million). Major NIOSH initiatives—ranging from respirator approvals to workplace hazard evaluations—remain unfunded.
“This has been quite the journey since April 1,” AIHA CEO Larry Sloan said. “The cuts jeopardize the health and safety of workers and leave huge gaps in occupational safety and health protections across the country.”
The proposed integration of NIOSH into the newly formed Advanced Health Agency (AHA) has further complicated the agency’s outlook. According to AIHA, this structural shift—part of a broader realignment within the Department of Health and Human Services—is raising concerns about whether occupational safety and health research will remain a priority. Critics warn that embedding NIOSH within a larger, more generalized agency could dilute its mission and reduce visibility for its critical worker safety programs.
Critical Programs in Jeopardy
NIOSH’s baseline staffing as of January 1, 2025, was approximately 1,060 employees (including the World Trade Center Health Program). Subtracting that program leaves about 980 employees pre-Trump. Since April 1st, approximately 425 employees remain on administrative leave (RIF-Reduction in Force), leaving only about 555 currently working. This spans multiple divisions and departments.
While some mission-critical programs were reinstated in May, such as the Respirator Approval Program, and some academic Education and Research Centers (ERCs), Training Project Grants (TPGs), and other grants received one-year funding extensions from FY 2025 appropriations, many key programs remain unfunded.
Among the programs not currently supported by the FY 2026 budget are:
- The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, home of the Respirator Approval Program that ensures respirator effectiveness worldwide
- The Health Hazard Evaluation Program, which conducts workplace investigations to identify unexplained illnesses and evaluates the safety of new chemicals or processes
- The Emergency Preparedness and Response Office, which coordinates NIOSH’s assistance during disasters
- The Division of Field Studies and Engineering, overseeing engineering controls, physical hazard mitigation, occupational surveillance, and cancer and reproductive epidemiology programs
- The Health Effects Laboratory Division, which includes the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods and validates new methods to meet environmental and occupational health standards
- The Division of Science Integration, which manages NIOSH policy recommendations, the NIOSH Pocket Guide, and occupational exposure banding resources
- The Office of Extramural Programs, which funds ERCs, TPGs, 10 Centers for Total Worker Health (TWH), 12 Centers for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AgFF), and the National Construction Center administered by CPWR
Many of these programs not only directly support worker safety but also underpin OSHA’s ability to set and enforce standards. Without them, hazard identification and prevention could be significantly delayed. Already, the agency is seeing staff with decades of institutional knowledge leave permanently, seeking employment elsewhere.
Grassroots Advocacy and Capitol Hill Outreach
Since the layoffs began in April, Sloan has met with lawmakers and staff on both House and Senate appropriations committees, as well as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. AIHA is also coordinating with its members in congressional districts to push for budget earmarks and program restoration.
“Our members have been asked to reach out directly to their elected officials, especially those sitting on key committees,” Sloan explained. “We provided a spreadsheet prioritizing those members and supplied talking points, infographics, and background documents on NIOSH’s programs.”
AIHA has organized grassroots campaigns urging members to send template letters and schedule in-person meetings with lawmakers, especially during the August recess. Advocacy resources and templates can be found at aiha.org, and Sloan said outreach during this period is critical as decisions on appropriations are expected in the fall. Without intervention, many programs may close permanently.
The association has also developed data points to illustrate NIOSH’s value. A RAND Corporation analysis found that $5.1 million in NIOSH costs yielded $338 million to $1.2 billion in annual economic value across three case studies, ranging from engineering controls for silica exposure to studies linking firefighting to cancer risk.
Broader Ecosystem Concerns
The cuts to NIOSH come amid wider uncertainty for other key agencies that make up the occupational safety and health ecosystem.
The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), which ensures due process in OSHA enforcement, lacks the quorum necessary to function effectively, creating a backlog of cases. The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH), OSHA’s only continuing statutory advisory body, has halted activities and meetings since February 2025, stalling rulemaking on heat illness and other issues.
The Chemical Safety Board (CSB), which investigates catastrophic chemical incidents, faces elimination again under the FY 2026 budget request. The proposal argues CSB’s functions are duplicative, but advocates stress that neither OSHA nor EPA can replicate CSB’s independent root-cause investigations.
Sloan said weakening any of these agencies risks systemic dysfunction. “They each play a distinct role—research, investigation, legal clarity, and policy guidance. If one is compromised, the entire system that protects workers is weakened.”
Impact on Worker Safety and Public Health
The proposed cuts have already led to significant attrition at NIOSH, with the headcount reduced from more than 1,000 employees to roughly 550. More than 400 employees remain on administrative leave, and many have left permanently.
“This isn’t just about jobs,” Sloan said. “NIOSH plays a critical role in supporting other federal agencies, from OSHA to EPA and the Department of Defense. Cutting its budget jeopardizes workplace safety across every industry.”
Environmental and worker health advocates have also raised concerns about the broader context. Recent moves to roll back climate change regulations and weaken EPA’s research arm could exacerbate workplace hazards, particularly heat stress, which is already a major occupational safety issue.
“Changing climate impacts are making the world hotter, and workers are feeling it,” Sloan said. He noted that AIHA recently developed a free heat stress app in four languages to help employers and workers assess conditions and mitigate risks in real time.
Looking Ahead to September
With the House currently in recess, AIHA is focused on the Senate, which is scheduled to markup labor and health appropriations bills this week. Bipartisan relationships in the Senate offer a glimmer of hope, though a continuing resolution could delay any decisions further.
“We’re asking for sensible earmarking,” Sloan said. “We don’t expect to see the entire $360 million restored immediately, but the $73 million currently allocated doesn’t make sense. We need a reasonable compromise that prioritizes critical programs.”
AIHA will resume its advocacy campaign in September when the House returns and will continue urging members to meet with legislators in their districts. The association believes the outcome of these efforts will be critical to preserving the programs that safeguard the nation’s workforce.
In addition, our VoterVoice platform remains available to send our campaign letter to your representatives.
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