NNU celebrates reinstatement of NIOSH staff

Nurses’ advocacy a major factor in win

Staff report

National Nurse magazine - Jan | Feb | March 2026 Issue

In mid January, nurses celebrated the reinstatement of hundreds of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) staff, who conduct essential programs and research to protect occupational health and safety for workers. It is a testament to registered nurses’ powerful advocacy as the most trusted profession in America and dedicated pushback by the public.

Since the Trump administration made these dangerous cuts in April 2025, nurses have led the campaign to hold the federal government accountable for keeping hospitals safe for patients and workers. With petitions, countless calls into Congress, and sign-on letters that brought together hundreds of public health advocates, as well as a congressional briefing and congressional letters led by Rep. Greg Landsman, our union made an undeniable case that reinstating NIOSH staff was an urgent matter. 

For more than 50 years, NIOSH has been an essential resource for workers across the United States to help ensure their health and safety at a variety of essential workplaces. Among many other vital services, NIOSH inspects and certifies respirators like N95s and other personal protective equipment that save the lives of countless nurses and health care workers in hospitals every day. This essential equipment is critical during this year’s deadly flu season. 

This victory belongs to the advocacy of union nurses, our partners, and our patients, but our elected leaders must finish cleaning up the mess they created. It is essential for the administration and Congress to take all steps to ensure that NIOSH can continue its mission to protect U.S. workers, including fully funding NIOSH through the appropriations process, fully and permanently reinstating all NIOSH staff, and ensuring that appropriated funds are spent by NIOSH to fulfill its mission established by Congress.