In January 2021, a tragic nitrogen leak in Georgia led to the deaths of six workers at a poultry plant. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board stepped in to investigate and identified the cause—a faulty freezer part. This agency has become known for its collaborative approach, providing crucial safety recommendations without penalizing companies.
However, the Trump administration plans to cut the board's budget starting in 2026, a decision that has even drawn opposition from industry groups. Shakeel H. Kadri, executive director of the Center for Chemical Process Safety, highlighted that the board plays a vital role in independent investigations, especially for smaller companies that lack the resources to conduct thorough safety assessments.
The proposal to dissolve this agency comes at a time when cuts are also being made to other federal agencies tasked with protecting worker safety, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Critics worry that these actions will jeopardize workplace safety and hinder the prevention of future tragedies.
