Judge Orders HHS to Restore Jobs in Health Monitoring Program for West Virginia Coal Miners

5Mind. The Meme Platform

The workers were laid off earlier this year as part of restructuring efforts.

A West Virginia federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reverse the terminations of nearly 200 workers who oversee a health monitoring program for coal miners after they were laid off last month.

Judge Irene C. Berger of the District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia granted a preliminary injunction compelling HHS to restore all personnel to the Respiratory Health Division of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Workers in the division are responsible for screening and reviewing medical examinations submitted by outside providers to determine whether there is evidence that miners have developed a respiratory ailment called pneumoconiosis, more commonly known as black lung disease.

“Testing for, diagnosing, preventing, and researching black lung is a highly specialized field—it simply is not possible to transfer the duties of the RHD employees to others without a period of transition and training,” the judge wrote in her ruling.

“Losing the services of these experienced and dedicated employees is an aspect of the irreparable harm to the miners and the public that cannot and should not be ignored.”

Berger ordered HHS to continue its Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program within NIOSH after finding the department lacked the authority to “unilaterally cancel” it.

Additionally, the judge ordered the restoration of a program called Part 90, which allows miners who present evidence of pneumoconiosis to transfer to less dusty jobs, without a reduction in pay, to protect them from continued exposure.

Berger’s decision comes after nearly 200 workers at the NIOSH facility were placed on administrative leave in April as part of restructuring within HHS. It’s part of wider cost-cutting efforts by the Trump administration that have seen thousands of federal employees across various departments laid off.

Berger did not specify in her order exactly how many of the jobs must be restored within the health division.

By Katabella Roberts

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Conservative Against Trump Are Dead to Me!

Youth today use the expression “sus” when something is suspicious and many traditionally pro-Trump conservative podcasters have become extremely sus.

Fat Propaganda Roundup: ‘Housing Inequity’

Rampant obesity doesn’t afflict parts of the world that don’t have drive-thrus, don’t spray toxics on cash crops and refuse to walk anywhere for any reason.

The Rich and the Dead

Regarding taxes, New York Governor Kathy Hochul believes she can induce wealthy former Empire State citizens to return after telling them to leave town.

Bob Mueller Died and Dodged a Bullet

Newly released information about Obama and Clinton means Mueller was a knowing participant in an attempt to overthrow a dually elected president.

Intelligence Assessment: Biden-Era CIA Framed Housewives as Domestic Terrorists

That tradwife food blogger obsessed with organic food and eliminating microplastics was, per Biden’s CIA, a Trojan horse for a Fourth Reich.

Jury Finds Meta, Google Liable in Social Media Addiction Trial

A Los Angeles jury on March 25 found Google and Meta liable in a landmark social media addiction trial.

Pentagon Signs New Deals to Boost Wartime Missile Production

The Pentagon struck agreements with major defense firms to speed production of key weapons systems heavily used in early stages of U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran.

‘I’m Done’: Robert Malone Exits CDC Vaccine Advisory Role

Dr. Robert Malone an adjunct prof. at Louisiana State Univ. noted judge deemed him unfit though he has decades of experience in the vaccine field.

FedEx Rolls Out Same-Day Delivery Service

FedEx launched a same-day delivery service as shipping and retail companies compete to meet growing customer expectations for near-instant order fulfillment.

Markwayne Mullin Sworn In as DHS Secretary

Former Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin was sworn in at the White House as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
00:27:39

US Looking to Seize Iranian Defectors’ Money: Bessent

Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent said that the US is moving to seize funds transferred abroad by Iranian defectors, so it can be to returned to the Iranian people.

Trump Says He’s ‘Not Putting Troops Anywhere’ Amid Iran War

President Donald Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss the Iran war, saying he is not inclined to send U.S. ground troops.

US Agencies Terminated or Reduced 95 Wasteful Contracts Worth $2 Billion: DOGE

Federal agencies canceled or scaled back 95 wasteful contracts worth up to $2B in the last four weeks, saving taxpayers $757M.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central