CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) — U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) is calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reverse recent layoffs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) facility in Morgantown, citing major concerns over the impact on coal miner health and safety.
In a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Senator Capito expressed deep concern over the April 1 Reduction in Force (RIF), which she says affected every employee involved in critical NIOSH coal programs. These programs, which include black lung screenings and safety research for underground mines, are seen as vital to the wellbeing of coal miners throughout West Virginia.
“The mission and work conducted by the specially trained NIOSH employees is not duplicative of any other government program,” Capito wrote. “I urge you to bring back the NIOSH employees immediately so they can continue to support our nation’s coal industry.”
The Morgantown NIOSH facility is home to highly specialized labs that have long focused on preventing mining injuries and occupational illnesses. These labs conduct groundbreaking research on coal and silica dust, black mold, and mine safety — studies that have informed safety regulations nationwide. Capito warned that decommissioning the labs would not only be expensive for taxpayers, but would also mean losing hard-won progress in occupational health.
Capito noted that the layoffs appear to run counter to President Trump’s recent Executive Orders aimed at revitalizing the coal industry. While she supports efforts to streamline government, she emphasized that eliminating unique health and safety research programs undermines both public health and the future of the energy workforce.
“The President’s Executive Orders are welcome news for our miners,” she said. “But we must also recognize the health of our miners and ensure that this momentum is matched by strong, science-based safety support.”
Capito concluded by urging HHS to restore the programs and personnel essential to continuing NIOSH’s mission in West Virginia and beyond.
