How Trump's Cuts Hit Worker Safety

Agency Impact & Funding - The Trump administration's cuts significantly impacted the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), affecting approximately 90% of its workforce [3][8] - Proposed budget cuts threatened to slash 80% of NIOSH's funds, jeopardizing its mission to protect American workers [9] - NIOSH's work, costing only $1 per American per year since 1979, has been crucial for workplace health and safety research [5] Workplace Safety & Research - NIOSH conducts and funds most U S workplace health and safety research, providing critical information and technical support to employers and workers [5][18] - The agency acts as "disease detectives" for workplaces, addressing unusual problems without known solutions, benefiting various industries [19] - NIOSH's research extends to emerging hazards like lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle fires, providing essential safety information to firefighters [20][21] Mining Industry & Worker Protection - NIOSH's work is vital for protecting miners, especially with the planned expansion of mining in the U S [13][14] - Cuts to NIOSH have halted projects aimed at improving the readiness of mine rescue teams, endangering miners in emergency situations [12] - The loss of NIOSH's services is a devastating blow to mining families, given the industry's history of injuries and fatalities [23][24]