Latest news with #WorkforceOptimizationInitiative
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
RFK, Capito and Moore didn't save NIOSH employees' jobs — a lawyer and coal miner did
U.S. District Court Judge Irene Berger ordered 'full restoration' of services at the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety's Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, pictured here on Jan. 28, 2012, is located in Morgantown, (Getty Images) Last week, a federal judge ordered 'full restoration' of services at the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety's Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program. However, after the ruling, credit for getting those people back to work at NIOSH started going to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — the man who eliminated the positions in the first place. In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Irene Berger said the federal Department of Health and Human Services could not legally end services with the surveillance program, and that doing so would 'cost lives.' In April, more than 200 jobs were eliminated at NIOSH as part of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative, which aimed to reduce staffing at DHHS from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees. This affected the entire NIOSH facility in Morgantown, leaving no one in the United States who performs the same services for occupational safety and health, said Cathy Tinney-Zara, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3040. 'We do the research to make everyone's job safer,' she said. West Virginia U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito was the only member of the state's Congressional delegation who spoke up against the job cuts. She requested a meeting with Kennedy, to ask him to bring back the NIOSH employees. Capito posted on X on the day of Berger's ruling that, 'The health and safety of our WV workers, including our miners, is of the utmost importance and I will always advocate for their wellbeing.' Despite that comment, she's not backing the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act that was introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Bobby Scott, who both represent Virginia. She's not speaking out about delaying the Mine Safety and Health Administration rule that would have limited how much dangerous silica dust coal miners are exposed to while they work. She hasn't supported federal legislation to increase monthly black lung benefits stipends for thousands of West Virginia coal miners and their families to keep up with rises in inflation. On the same day as Berger's ruling, job cuts were reversed for a Pittsburgh lab that certifies virtually all U.S. government-approved respirators in the country. When Pennsylvania Capitol-Star reporter Ian Karbal reached out to DHHS about the reversal, a spokesperson pointed to employees at the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program getting back to work. They gave the credit, however, to Kennedy and, of course, the Trump administration. 'The Trump Administration remains committed to supporting coal miners, who play a vital role in America's energy sector. Under Secretary [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]'s leadership, NIOSH's Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program will continue to meet the needs of our nation's miners,' a spokesperson for DHHS wrote. West Virginia U.S. Rep. Riley Moore — who eventually began to care about the job cuts in Morgantown — credited himself and Kennedy for good news. 'This is a great win for West Virginia, and I can't thank the Secretary enough for working closely with my office to make this happen,' Moore posted on X. 'The work NIOSH does is critically important for our coal miners and their safety.' But that's not what happened. The NIOSH employees only got their jobs back because Berger ruled it was illegal to end the program. And she heard from NIOSH employees and the case's lead plaintiff, a coal miner named Harry Wiley, who presented 'overwhelming evidence' that the work had been stopped — not just paused — without any plans or efforts in place to ensure it continued as mandated by Congress. Mine safety and health lawyer Sam Brown Petsonk worked with Mountain State Justice and Appalachian Mountain Advocates to file Wiley v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., et al. Petsonk found Wiley, a coal miner who was diagnosed with black lung in November, to testify and lead the case. Wiley asked to use Part 90, which allows workers diagnosed with black lung to transfer to a less dusty part of a mine without facing retribution from a mine operator. To qualify, miners must have their black lung testing results certified by NIOSH. But those employees were all placed on administrative leave on April 1, leaving no one to approve his application or offer him free screenings to verify his claims. 'As the testimony before the Court made clear, that dust exposure will cause [Wiley's] disease to progress until it becomes debilitating. Does [Kennedy] genuinely believe that a miner diagnosed with black lung is not being injured when the program designed to confirm his condition and provide him with workplace protections to prevent its progression is rendered inaccessible?' Berger wrote. 'This Court does not share such a belief.' Wiley risked the possibility of facing unofficial social reprimands from the coal mine he works at. He should feel insulted that people are thanking Kennedy — Kennedy didn't make the decision to put NIOSH employees back to work, Berger did. Our elected and appointed officials with one lone exception sat back while the government attempted to rob coal miners of the congressionally mandated rights their predecessors fought for. And those miners fight every day to survive an incurable disease without their help. When you see campaign ads featuring coal miners start to circulate on TV next election, remember where this credit really belongs. Remember who actually fought for our coal miners. Capito and Moore should be thanking Berger, Petsonk and Wiley for getting some NIOSH employees back to work. And they should be working to get the rest of the employees back on the job permanently as well. The mining research team in Pennsylvania is still on 'temporary' administrative leave. This isn't the end of the fight. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
NBC News
10-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Judge pauses Trump's effort to reduce the size of the federal government
A federal judge in California on Friday temporarily blocked plans for reductions-in-force and reorganization at 21 departments and agencies across the federal government, a significant setback as the Trump administration works to downsize. 'The President has the authority to seek changes to executive branch agencies, but he must do so in lawful ways and, in the case of large-scale reorganizations, with the cooperation of the legislative branch,' Judge Susan Illston wrote in her order after hearing arguments on the issue earlier in the day. 'Many presidents have sought this cooperation before; many iterations of Congress have provided it. Nothing prevents the President from requesting this cooperation—as he did in his prior term of office. Indeed, the Court holds the President likely must request Congressional cooperation to order the changes he seeks, and thus issues a temporary restraining order to pause large-scale reductions in force in the meantime,' she wrote. The temporary restraining order, in effect for two weeks, puts the president's 'Department of Government Efficiency' Workforce Optimization Initiative on hold for 21 departments and agencies. The order also includes memos issued to the same effect by the Office of Personnel Management and DOGE. Illston, appointed by President Bill Clinton, said she believes there's no statute that gives the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, or DOGE the authority to direct other federal agencies to engage in large-scale terminations, restructuring, or elimination of itself. 'Such action is far outside the bounds of any authority that Congress vested in OPM or OMB, and, as noted, DOGE has no statutory authority whatsoever,' she wrote. While thousands of federal employees working in departments and agencies across the country have been RIF'ed since Trump took office in January, the Trump administration has not made an exact number of affected employees available. The departments and agencies blocked from instituting reductions-in-force or reorganizations include DOGE, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Interior and Transportation. The Trump administration argued the lawsuit, filed April 28, lacked timeliness because the Executive Order was issued nearly three months ago. In similar cases around the country, the administration has argued lawsuits filed immediately after Executive Orders were issued are premature. 'Defendants cannot have it both ways," Judge Illston wrote. 'The Court finds that plaintiffs reasonably waited to gather what information they could about the harm they may suffer from the Executive Order, the OMB/OPM Memorandum, and the ARRPs (Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans).' 'The Trump administration's unlawful attempt to reorganize the federal government has thrown agencies into chaos, disrupting critical services provided across our nation,' the coalition of non-profits, unions, and local governments said in a statement Friday. 'Each of us represents communities deeply invested in the efficiency of the federal government — laying off federal employees and reorganizing government functions haphazardly does not achieve that. We are gratified by the court's decision today to pause these harmful actions while our case proceeds.' Illston is scheduled to hear further arguments in this case on May 22.
Business Insider
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Claims of U.S. embassy closures in Africa dismissed as Rubio announces reform blueprint
Rumors of U.S. embassy closures in Africa were dismissed after Senator Marco Rubio unveiled a major State Department reform plan. Rumors about the United States closing multiple embassies in Africa have been refuted Senator Marco Rubio is leading a reform plan to streamline and modernize U.S. diplomatic engagement The goal is to align the State Department's structure with the administration's broader objectives and improve efficiency Rumors that the United States planned to shut down multiple embassies across Africa have been refuted following the unveiling of a sweeping State Department reform plan led by Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio. The initiative, presented as a long-overdue restructuring effort, aims to streamline operations and modernize U.S. diplomatic engagement—particularly in strategically important regions like Africa. In a statement on Tuesday, Rubio emphasized that the changes are designed to enhance, not diminish, the country's global presence. ' Today is the day. Under @POTUS' leadership and at my direction, we are reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy at the State Department. These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to put America and Americans first,' he wrote on X. According to CNN, the first phase of the overhaul includes the elimination of 132 domestic offices, the reduction of around 700 positions in Washington, D.C., and the closure of several offices focused on war crimes and global conflict. A senior State Department official described the current structure as 'bloated,' arguing that it has had a ' deleterious effect on foreign policy and the relevance of the Department. ' The clarification comes after a leaked memo claimed that the Trump administration was planning to shut down 10 embassies and 17 consulates across Africa as part of broader cost-cutting measures. The memo triggered widespread concern among diplomats and foreign policy experts, particularly following earlier moves to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). No embassy closures reported While the sweeping reforms will impact a record number of employees within the U.S. State Department, officials have made it clear that no overseas missions are being shut down at this time. In response to growing speculation, an internal FAQ memo emphasized that ' no embassy, consulate, or overseas post closures have been made at this time.' A fact sheet obtained by CNN noted that, as part of the reform plan, Under Secretaries are required to submit strategies to reduce staff in domestic offices by 15 percent—aligning with the President's Workforce Optimization Initiative. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, in a memo to employees, outlined that the department's leadership expects these restructuring plans within 30 days, with full implementation scheduled for July 1. The overall goal, a senior official explained, is to align the department's structure with the administration's broader objectives and improve efficiency. According to the internal documents, the number of offices at State Department headquarters will be reduced from 734 to 602—a 22 percent cut.
CNN
22-04-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Rubio unveils first stage of major State Department overhaul
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday rolled out the first stage of a major plan to reorganize the US State Department with changes that will eliminate 132 domestic offices, cut around 700 positions in Washington, DC, and close offices focused on war crimes and global conflict, according to a senior State Department official and documents obtained by CNN. The State Department argued the changes are necessary to maintain its efficacy and relevance, with a senior State Department official calling the current department organization chart 'bloated' and arguing it has had a 'deleterious effect on foreign policy and relevance of the Department.' The senior State Department official said the changes wouldn't result in immediate layoffs, but signaled that officials will lose their jobs. As part of the reorganization, 700 positions within the Washington headquarters are expected to be eliminated, the official said. An internal State Department fact sheet obtained by CNN said that 'as part of the plan, the Under Secretaries will also submit a path to reducing staff in domestic offices by 15 percent, consistent with the President's Workforce Optimization Initiative.' The long-anticipated reorganization proposal revealed Tuesday does not go into granular detail. The senior State Department official instead described it as a 'roadmap.' Undersecretaries of state have been tasked to develop plans within 30 days for leadership to implement the changes by July 1, according to a memo that Deputy Secretary of State Christoper Landau sent to the workforce Tuesday. The goal is for the department to be reorganized in a way that is 'structurally in line' with what the administration wants to accomplish, the official said. The changes would bring the number of offices at the department's headquarters from 734 to 602 — a 22% reduction. An additional 137 offices will be transitioned 'to another location within the Department to increase efficiency,' according to the fact sheet. 'Today is the day. Under @POTUS' leadership and at my direction, we are reversing decades of bloat and bureaucracy at the State Department. These sweeping changes will empower our talented diplomats to Put America and Americans first,' Rubio posted on X. The reorganization plan focuses on the domestic offices to start. The proposal has been developed since the early days of the Trump administration within the State Department. 'DOGE was not in charge of this,' State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Tuesday, referencing the Elon Musk-backed Department of Government Efficiency, which has led massive cuts throughout the federal government. It does not mark the only changes the department is expected to make — particularly when it comes to overseas posts. According to an internal FAQ memo, 'no embassy, consulate or overseas post closures have been made at this time.' Rumors about the proposed changes had stirred fear and anxiety among the State Department workforce, especially after the dramatic moves to shutter the US Agency for International Development, or USAID. The State Department reorganization is separate but 'highly complementary' with the work to fold USAID under the State Department, the internal FAQ memo said. Still, a proposed new organizational chart released by the department and the internal fact sheet outline broad changes at the US' diplomatic agency. The Undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights is eliminated, as is the Office of Global Criminal Justice and the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations. The offices that focus on refugees, religious freedom and combatting human trafficking are moved under the Office of the Coordinator of Foreign Assistance and Humanitarian Affairs. It also shows the creation of an assistant secretary for emerging threats. 'Each of the regional bureaus will create an Office of Assistance that coordinates aid for the bureau,' the fact sheet says, reflecting the upcoming closure of USAID. The senior State Department official said Congress had been informed of the intended changes at the agency. The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Brian Mast, applauded the proposed overhaul, saying in a statement that it will make the State Department 'leaner and meaner and ensure every dollar and diplomat puts America First.' Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Democratic ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, noted that 'any changes to the State Department and USAID must be carefully weighed with the real costs to American security and leadership.' 'When America retreats — as it has under President Trump — China and Russia fill the void. A strong and mission-ready State Department advances American national security interests, opens up new markets for American workers and companies and promotes global peace and stability,' she said in a statement. 'It remains to be seen how the administration's latest proposals will achieve that goal.' 'I will be scrutinizing these proposed reforms, which must be done with close consultation with Congress and in compliance with the law … and I will hold Secretary Rubio to his pledge to appear before our Committee and engage with Congress on the future of the State Department,' she said. This story has been updated with additional details.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Federal job cuts hit NIOSH hard in Morgantown, leaving workers vulnerable — what to do if you're affected
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is laying off hundreds of workers. Though details are limited, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) President Cecil E. Roberts said in a recent statement, 'NIOSH began laying off hundreds of workers who are engaged in research and the improvement of products and practices that literally save the lives of coal miners every day.' I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Roberts added that NIOSH announced 'significant downsizing' of offices in Morgantown, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The layoffs come amid a sweeping federal reorganization effort led by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as part of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Workforce Optimization Initiative. But what are the job cuts supposed to accomplish? According to an HHS statement, the "Make America Healthy Again" plan aims to reduce the federal health workforce by 20,000 employees overall — shrinking HHS from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time staff. It will also consolidate 28 HHS divisions into 15 new ones, while regional offices will be reduced from 10 to just 5. As part of the plan, NIOSH is being folded into a new agency called the Administration for a Healthy America (AHA), alongside the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other offices. HHS says the changes will save taxpayers $1.8 billion per year and improve efficiency by reducing 'redundant units.' However, critics argue that the cost savings come at the expense of public and workplace safety — especially in places like Morgantown, where NIOSH plays a key role in researching coal worker health, respiratory disease and workplace hazards. 'I do not think that these actions are being done in a coordinated way to hurt the American coal industry and those who work in it. But that is the effect,' Roberts said in the release. 'Miners have and can continue to produce the materials to power American homes, produce American steel and so many other products our society uses every day.' Read more: The US stock market's 'fear gauge' has exploded — but this 1 'shockproof' asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Here's how to own it ASAP Layoffs at NIOSH threaten not only the job security of hundreds of employees, but also the health and safety of coal miners and other high-risk workers who rely on the agency's research. Morgantown's facility employed around 500 workers, reported MetroNews. Its research informed safety regulations, protective equipment standards and disease prevention strategies across several industries. Roberts believes the downsizing could cripple progress in mine safety as the coal industry "relies on the research done there to improve its safety practices.' Sen. Shelley Moore Capito told 12 News in a statement that the cuts would harm 'vital health programs,' adding that 'any cuts that impact [coal workers'] health monitoring need to be restored immediately.' In addition to the safety concerns, the economic impact could be significant for Morgantown and surrounding areas. Losing hundreds of high-paying federal jobs affects not just those laid off, but also local businesses that depend on NIOSH employees as customers. From diners and daycare centers to home service providers, many small businesses could feel the ripple effects of the layoffs. Here are a few ways locals can manage the disruption: Know your rights. If you're injured or face exposure to hazardous conditions, report it immediately to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Employers must still comply with its standards. Connect with state and nonprofit resources. West Virginia's Department of Health, WorkForce West Virginia, the PA Workforce Development Association and organizations like the Appalachian Citizens' Law Center may be able to offer guidance, legal help or job retraining opportunities. Protect your health on the job. With fewer researchers to monitor workplace hazards, it's more important than ever to take precautions. Use proper PPE, attend all safety training and document any incidents or exposure you experience or witness. Consider looking for new opportunities. Sen. Capito and West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey both say they're working to help affected workers find new employment. While these roles may take time to materialize, job retraining programs or federal grants may be offered soon. Pay attention to state announcements and job boards. As Trump and DOGE aim to reshape federal agencies, communities like Morgantown are left to navigate the fallout and fight to protect the workers and industries who have long powered the country. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
