Senators press HHS to restore NIOSH mining and coal‑miner screening staff

Senators from mining and coal states raised concerns about the status of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) mining and coal-miner screening programs after reported layoffs or reassignments.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Senator Roger Wicker, Senator Mike Rounds and others emphasized the federal role in occupational safety for miners and described specialized NIOSH units in Morgantown and Spokane that provide investigations and technical oversight. Capito said she was "pleased that you brought some of these specialized NIOSH employees back to work earlier this month" and urged the department not to eliminate unique NIOSH programs.

Secretary Kennedy said he had reinstated 328 NIOSH workers and restored some mining and coal-related functions, including investigations that led to a final report on a 2020 firefighter fatality referenced earlier in testimony. He told senators he would work with them to address localized impacts, specifically citing visits to mining sites and an understanding of regional mining safety needs.

Senator Mike Rounds asked about the Spokane Mining Research Division, which senators said is important for western mining operations and for oversight of grants to accredited mining schools. Kennedy said he would work with Rounds' office to address the Spokane program and to ensure research and grant oversight could proceed.

Lawmakers asked HHS to provide a list of NIOSH offices, staff status, and plans to restore any specialized capabilities that were disrupted during the reorganization.