Safety organizations urge Congress to maintain funding for OSHA and NIOSH in FY 2027
A broad coalition of safety, health, labor, and industry organizations, including ISEA, is urging Congress to take a simple but critical step: Maintain strong funding for the agencies that keep workers safe.
Specifically, the request is to provide no less than FY 2026 funding levels for OSHA and NIOSH in FY 2027.
This isn’t just about budgets—it’s about making sure we don’t lose ground on preventing workplace injuries and fatalities.
📄Read the letter to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.
Why this matters
Every day in the U.S., 12 workers die on the job and thousands more are seriously injured.
These incidents are often preventable. But prevention doesn’t happen by accident—it requires ongoing investment in the systems that support workplace safety.
That includes:
Clear, effective safety standards
Research that drives better protections and equipment
Training and outreach that help employers keep workers safe
OSHA and NIOSH are at the center of that work.
Safety is an investment—not a cost
One of the most important ideas driving this effort is simple: investing in safety pays off.
When workplaces are safer:
-
Workers go home safe at the end of the day
-
Businesses avoid costly injuries, disruptions, and turnover
-
The economy benefits from a stronger, more stable workforce
Workplace injuries already cost the U.S. billions each year—costs that are largely preventable with the right investments.
You can learn more about how safety investments drive real-world impact here: InvestInSafety.org.
Why we can’t afford to fall behind
Workplaces are changing—new technologies, new risks, and new workforce challenges are emerging all the time.
Pulling back on safety funding now would mean:
Slower progress on reducing injuries and fatalities
Less support for employers trying to do the right thing
Greater long-term costs for businesses and communities
Maintaining funding isn’t about expanding programs—it’s about keeping pace with today’s realities and continuing the progress already underway.
The ask
The coalition’s message is clear:
📢 Do not cut funding for OSHA and NIOSH. Maintain at least FY 2026 funding levels in FY 2027.
The bottom line
If we want safer workplaces and a stronger economy, we have to continue investing in safety.
Because behind every statistic is a person—and every investment in safety helps ensure they make it home.
