Trump Administration Cuts Threaten Safety Training for America's Most Dangerous Jobs

When commercial fisherman Robbie Roberge spotted flames licking up from the galley of his vessel last August, experience took over—but it was his recent safety training that made the difference. With precious minutes to spare, he and his crew donned emergency suits, deployed a life raft, and sent a mayday call as fire devoured the Three Girls fishing boat over 100 miles offshore. The life-saving response was learned just a few months prior at a specialized workshop meant for those who work in some of America’s most perilous industries.

Such safety training workshops have been a lifeline for thousands employed in fishing, logging, and farming—industries consistently ranked among the nation’s deadliest. But these programs now face an uncertain future. Major federal budget cuts, championed by U.S. President Donald Trump as part of a larger push to shrink government spending, are threatening the very existence of key workplace safety initiatives.

A particularly hard-hit agency is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which plays a central role in funding and overseeing job safety training and research across the country. On April 1, the Trump administration eliminated nearly 90% of NIOSH’s workforce, terminating about 875 out of 1,000 employees. The majority of those let go were responsible for providing technical support to regional Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health, which focus on safeguarding workers in high-risk fields such as fishing, farming, and logging.

Although a partial reinstatement of 300 NIOSH staff occurred earlier this month, the divisions overseeing critical safety centers remain shuttered. The impending loss of expertise and funding has placed several centers on notice; staff across at least seven locations have reported preparations to close operations once their current grants expire in the coming months. For instance, the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety in Florida is already phasing down activities, expecting its grant to expire by late September.

Some organizations that provide direct safety education are on the brink as well. The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, known for its training of fishermen on survival at sea, may be forced to halt programs as soon as July. Other key groups, like Fishing Partnership Support Services (FPSS), expect to make sharp cutbacks by fall unless new funding sources are found.

Experts warn the consequences could ripple far beyond the trainees themselves. The reduction or elimination of professional safety instruction places a heavier burden on federal marine rescue teams, who may need to respond to a greater number of accidents at sea. “If they give us this money to do this training, it’s going to lessen how much money has to be spent to rescue the untrained,” cautioned FPSS instructor John Roberts, who has more than three decades of Coast Guard experience.

Responding to concerns, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged the workforce reductions but insisted that “the work will continue,” reaffirming support for America’s agricultural, fishery, and logging workers. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. defended the moves, describing the staff cuts as necessary steps toward reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency. Plans are underway to merge NIOSH with other sub-agencies within a newly envisioned Administration for a Healthy America.

For now, the fate of vital safety training for workers in America’s most dangerous jobs hangs in the balance, as agencies and advocacy groups scramble to adapt to the rapidly shifting landscape of federal support. The outcome, experts say, could have life-and-death consequences for those who risk everything to keep the country fed, fueled, and supplied.