Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., meets with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Dec. 18, 2024.
Office of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito | Courtesy photo
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has called on federal Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to bring back employees of a local National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health office that supports the coal industry.
At least 200 workers were affected by a reduction-in-force at the Morgantown office earlier this month as a part of a restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The changes, meant to save $1.8 billion a year, will reduce staffing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees at the department.
In a letter to Kennedy dated Monday, Capito wrote that she had talked to Kennedy about the agency and the “important work†it does to improve and monitor the health care of coal miners in West Virginia.
The NIOSH office plays a crucial role in detecting black lung among the nation’s coal miners through its Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program. The program operated a mobile clinic that traveled between coal mines and coal communities.
The facility’s research on rock dust has led to safety changes to prevent explosions in underground mines, Capito said.
“I ask that the department bring back not only the functions of the NIOSH coal offices and programs, but also some of the specialized employees impacted by the April 1 HHS-wide Reduction in Force who do this important work in Morgantown, West Virginia,†Capito wrote.
Earlier this month, Capito joined President Donald Trump at the White House as he signed executive orders meant to bolster the country’s declining coal industry. The orders allowed some older coal-fired power plants set for retirement to continue producing electricity, directed federal agencies to identify coal resources on federal lands, lifted barriers to coal mining and prioritize coal leasing on U.S. lands, according to the Associated Press.
“The president’s executive orders are welcome news for our miners and will help ensure all Americans have access to affordable and reliable energy resources like coal,†Capito wrote. “As the president recognizes the importance of coal, we must also recognize the health of our miners and I encourage you to bring back the NIOSH coal programs and researchers that will help ensure the president’s vision to unleash American energy can be done safely.â€
She added that she believes in Trump’s vision to right-size government, but she does not believe that eliminating the NIOSH coal programs and research will accomplish that goal.
In an emailed response Tuesday, an HHS official said that “The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, along with its critical programs, will join the Administration for a Healthy America alongside multiple agencies to improve coordination of health resources for Americans.â€
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