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HHS laid off seven of eight federal firefighter-death investigators

Reporting and findings

  1. reported

    ProPublica reported that seven of eight members of NIOSH's Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program received layoff notices while the team was examining deaths at 20 departments.

  2. documented

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was the Trump-appointed health and human services secretary.

  3. documented

    Elon Musk was the Trump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE work.

Summary and current status

Twenty open line-of-duty death inquiries lost the specialists who turn fatal incidents into prevention guidance.

Seven investigators received layoff notices and 20 investigations faced interruption

People and organizations

Relationships in this file

  1. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.eliminated nearly the entire fatality-investigation teamNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  2. Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed health and human services secretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.
  3. Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk

Figures

  1. Firefighter fatality investigators receiving layoff notices7 of 8 people
    Calculation details
    Basis
    Observed
    Population
    NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
    Period
    2025-04-01 to 2025-04-21
    Method
    Team roster and layoff notices reported by a program investigator to ProPublica.
    Uncertainty
    Subsequent recalls could change staffing; 20 investigations were at risk at publication.