Jon Husted on DOGE and Federal Workers: the Kennedy Confirmation, NIOSH Cincinnati, and NASA Glenn
Jon Husted voted on February 13, 2025 to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, and Kennedy's department announced a cut from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees; in Cincinnati, about 400 workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were notified of the reduction in April 2025.
The Ohio senator also voted against budget amendments to reinstate fired federal workers and protect their bargaining rights. As the cuts began, he said in a written statement that “DOGE is diligently working to save money for Ohio taxpayer”.
Jon Husted's Votes and Statements on DOGE and Federal Job Cuts
- Husted Voted to Confirm Kennedy, Whose Department Cut 20,000 Jobs. On February 13, 2025, Jon Husted voted to confirm Kennedy. HHS announced a reduction in force of about 10,000 employees as part of DOGE's workforce initiative, for a total downsizing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees.
- Husted Voted Against Reinstating Fired Park and Forest Workers. On February 20, 2025, Husted voted no on a budget amendment for reinstating fired employees at the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management; it failed 48-52.
- Husted Voted Against Protecting Federal Workers' Bargaining Rights. On April 4, 2025, Husted voted no on a budget amendment to protect federal employees' collective bargaining agreements and right to organize; it failed 48-51.
- Husted Praised DOGE as Cuyahoga Valley Lost Workers. Asked about the cuts in February 2025, Husted said in a statement to Cleveland.com, “If its reform efforts lead to unintended consequences, I expect that the president’s team will strive to resolve them quickly.” That week four workers were let go from Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
What the Federal Cuts Jon Husted Backed Mean for Ohio
- NIOSH layoffs in Cincinnati cut the firefighter cancer registry. A NIOSH union steward said the programs cut include the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, which tracks cancer in firefighters, and the Health Hazard Evaluation Program that checks workplaces for hazards.
- NASA Glenn in Cleveland lost 19 percent of its workforce. NASA Glenn and the Neil Armstrong Test Facility have about 600 fewer employees than a year earlier, a 19 percent loss, after cuts that came as agencies faced DOGE pressure; a former employee said those left will be “stretched more thin”.
- Cincinnati teens lost an arts program grant. Cincinnati's Contemporary Arts Center lost a three-year, $175,000 federal grant for teen programming; the center had served over 3,000 teens a year and planned to reach 5,000.
Frequently Asked Questions Jon Husted on DOGE and Federal Workers
What is Jon Husted's record on DOGE and federal workers under Trump?
Jon Husted voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted against amendments to reinstate fired federal workers and protect their bargaining rights. He said “DOGE is diligently working to save money for Ohio taxpayer” in February 2025.
What did Jon Husted say about DOGE job cuts in Ohio?
Jon Husted told Cleveland.com in February 2025 that he had heard from Ohioans who are grateful for the effort to end federal waste, while the park and NASA cuts in Northeast Ohio were under way.
How many jobs did NASA Glenn lose while Jon Husted was in the Senate?
Jon Husted's first year in the Senate saw NASA Glenn in Cleveland drop from 3,201 to 2,590 workers, counting civil servants and contractors.
Last updated: 2026-10-28