Trump Administration Cut NIOSH Programs for Firefighter Safety

Firefighters face a constant battle against toxins and chemicals that threaten their physical and mental well-being. This struggle is only intensified by the stress and lack of sleep that come with the job. Shockingly, research from NIOSH has revealed that firefighters are 9 percent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and 14 percent more likely to die from it compared to the general population.

Despite the vital role that NIOSH plays in ensuring the health and safety of firefighters, the program has been drastically reduced or eliminated under the direction of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a ruthless “reduction in force” that has impacted over 10,000 employees. This devastating blow has left many fearing a significant decline in the health outcomes of firefighters.

The dedicated individuals at the Center for Firefighter Safety, Health, and Well-being, including those involved in the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, have been unjustly let go. Similarly, the team responsible for maintaining the CDC’s National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, a crucial resource authorized by President Donald Trump in 2018, has also been disbanded.

It is a cruel irony that firefighters, who have shown unwavering support for President Trump, now find themselves betrayed and discarded in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy. The very individuals who risk their lives to protect others are now being abandoned and forgotten. How does it feel to be stabbed in the back and cast aside after all they have sacrificed? The injustice is palpable, and the consequences are dire.