In a major victory for workers and the Morgantown community, more than 100 employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will be returning to their jobs permanently, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced Tuesday.
The announcement came via Capito’s official account on X, formerly known as Twitter, where she shared the news that the workers’ jobs had been saved after months of uncertainty surrounding potential layoffs.
“As Chairman of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee, I was proud to advocate for the critical work that’s done at NIOSH in Morgantown, W.Va.,” Capito wrote. “My understanding from Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is that over 100 Morgantown employees will be returning to the job permanently. The health and safety of our West Virginia workers, including our miners, is of the utmost importance, and I will always advocate for their wellbeing.”
Capito, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and chair of the subcommittee that oversees Health and Human Services (HHS) funding, said she spoke directly with Secretary Kennedy to discuss the importance of preserving the NIOSH jobs in Morgantown.
This development comes after a troubling series of events that began earlier this year. More than 200 positions at the Morgantown NIOSH facility had been slated for elimination as part of a broader nationwide workforce reduction within NIOSH, which aimed to cut approximately 2,400 jobs. In early April, 185 union-represented employees received reduction-in-force (RIF) notices, informing them that their roles were in jeopardy.
The situation grew even more dire in the weeks that followed, as non-union staff at the facility were informed they would be out of work by July 2.
However, things began to turn when Capito wrote a formal letter to Secretary Kennedy in April, strongly urging him to reconsider the layoffs and highlighting the essential role that NIOSH plays in protecting worker health and safety, particularly in West Virginia, where industries such as mining remain a key part of the economy.
Cathy Tinney, president of Morgantown Local 3430 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), confirmed that workers who were previously told they would be laid off have now received letters rescinding their RIF notices.
“We want to commend Sen. Capito and Secretary Kennedy,” Tinney said. “We still maintain that all our jobs are essential, so this is a first step.”
While this is indeed a significant win for more than 100 workers and their families, uncertainty remains for the remaining employees whose futures are still undecided. Union leaders and local advocates continue to press for the full restoration of all positions at the Morgantown NIOSH facility.
For now, though, the announcement marks a major turnaround in what had become a deeply concerning situation for one of West Virginia’s most important public health institutions. The permanent return of more than 100 workers offers hope that continued advocacy and dialogue with federal officials may lead to even more positive outcomes in the weeks ahead.
As the battle for job security continues, the Morgantown community stands strong, with the support of state and federal leaders who recognize the vital importance of NIOSH’s work and the people behind it.
