WASHINGTON — The National Firefighter Registry for Cancer (NFR) has been restored following an April 1 reduction-in-force (RIF) that affected National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) staff supporting the program.
In March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a “dramatic restructuring in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order, ‘Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative.’” Specifically, the HHS announcement indicated that the department’s 28 divisions will be consolidated into 15 new divisions, including a new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). The AHA would include NIOSH, previously housed within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Days later, on April 1, hundreds of NIOSH employees, including many who work on firefighter health and safety programs like the NFR, were notified that they had been laid off or would be laid off in June. Almost immediately after the news of the NIOSH layoffs, the NFR site went offline.
What is the National Firefighter Registry?
The National Firefighter Registry (NFR) is a nationwide initiative led by NIOSH. Its goal is to better understand and reduce cancer risk among U.S. firefighters. As of March, around 23,000 firefighters had enrolled. Participants complete a secure survey about their service history, which is linked with state cancer registries to track trends and improve prevention strategies.
Why was it created?
Firefighters are exposed to smoke, hazardous chemicals and other toxic substances in the line of duty. Over time, these exposures may increase their risk for developing cancer. However, research has been limited due to a lack of comprehensive data. The NFR was created in 2018 to:
- Collect health and work information from firefighters.
- Study the link between firefighting and cancer.
- Help develop strategies to better protect firefighters’ health.
Why should firefighters join?
By joining the NFR, firefighters are:
- Helping protect future generations of firefighters.
- Contributing to critical research on occupational cancer risks.
- Supporting the development of better safety standards and health protections.
