When veteran fisherman Robbie Roberge faced a life-threatening fire aboard his vessel Three Girls last August, his crew’s survival hinged on safety protocols learned months earlier at a nonprofit workshop. Now, such critical training programs for America’s most hazardous professions – from commercial fishing to logging – face steep cuts under President Trump’s government downsizing initiative, sparking concerns over workplace risks and emergency preparedness.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a key funder of occupational safety programs, saw 875 staff positions terminated in April – including specialists supporting 12 regional safety centers. While 300 roles were reinstated this month, technical advisors for high-risk industries remain excluded, according to union data reviewed by Reuters.
Seven regional safety centers now anticipate closures as NIOSH grants expire, including Alaska’s marine safety programs by July and New England’s Fishing Partnership Support Services (FPSS) by September. “The return on investment is huge,” said FPSS instructor John Roberts, a 31-year Coast Guard veteran. “Trained crews reduce rescue costs and save lives.”
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. defended the restructuring as necessary to streamline bureaucracy, but critics warn of cascading consequences. The University of Florida’s Southeastern Coastal Center has already begun winding down operations, while FPSS reports potential training reductions affecting thousands of East Coast fishermen.
For Roberge, who credits FPSS training with his crew’s flawless evacuation during last year’s fire, the cuts represent a dangerous gamble: “Experience doesn’t replace emergency preparedness. This training matters.”
