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In a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announcement, federal employees were notified that their job status had been reinstated, says EHSToday. According to Federal News Network, the Trump Administration’s decision to lay off government employees included around 90 percent of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) staff. While 328 NIOSH workers were brought back in May, the remaining members received notice of their restored positions on Jan. 13, 2026, AFGE states.

This is celebratory news for the labor unions, public health experts, and worker safety advocates who spent months campaigning, AIHA notes. As Andrew Nixon, an HHS spokesperson, shares in an MSN article, the reversal marks the current administration’s aim to protect public health. The reinstatement of its employees allows NIOSH to continue conducting research on occupational health and safety, MarketWatch adds.

NIOSH’s research findings are utilized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish safety standards that safeguard workers’ well-being; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) affirms. As reported by Bloomberg News, the organization regularly assesses new chemical risks and the effectiveness of personal protective equipment (PPE). Although NIOSH is now set to resume operations at full staffing levels, employees will need time to adjust to determine where projects were left off and how to move forward, MedicalXpress says.