Safety associations urge Feds to keep government open during budget negotiations

A group of U.S. safety associations issued a statement Sept. 29 urging Congress and President Trump to keep the government open during FY26 federal budget negotiations.

The October 2025 U.S. Federal government shutdown has impacted services provided by safety regulatory agencies including OSHA, NIOSH, and the MSHA.

In anticipation of the shutdown, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published a plan on Sept. 26 to continue limited activities until Congress and Trump approve the FY26 federal budget, reducing staffing by 50% to 75% while continuing to perform safety-critical inspections and investigations.

Signatories of the statement include:

• Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity (ABSA International)
• American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) 
• American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)
• Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)
• Institute of Hazardous Materials Management (IHMM)
• International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA)
• National Safety Council (NSC)

The statement reads as follows:

Occupational safety community calls for a functioning government to protect workers

“The safety of America’s workers depends on a government that is transparent and functioning effectively. Agencies such as OSHA, NIOSH, and MSHA play a crucial role in protecting American workers on the job every day. Whether it’s setting workplace safety standards, conducting onsite consultations, evaluating and approving new respiratory protection devices that help prevent injuries and illnesses, or safeguarding miners extracting the critical minerals our economy depends on, these agencies are the backbone of a safer, healthier workforce. When the government shuts down, this essential work comes to a halt - and workers face increased risks as a result.

“The White House and Congress will always have important debates about budgets and priorities. These debates should happen in good faith, but not at the expense of workers’ lives and livelihoods. Shutting down the government does not make workplaces safer. Instead, it leaves oil field ‘roughnecks,’ construction crews, nurses, and countless other essential workers without the protections they need and deserve.

“The occupational safety community urges both White House and Congressional leaders to keep the government open while negotiating the final FY26 funding deal. The stakes are too high to play politics with worker safety. 

“Americans expect their government to protect them on the job, and that responsibility doesn’t stop when negotiations get tough. Keeping OSHA, MSHA, NIOSH, and other workplace safety agencies fully operational is the responsible choice, recognizing the importance of workers, their families, and the strength of our nation’s economy.”