By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Over 100 federal employees who screen coal miners for black lung disease and research other respiratory disease who had been terminated as part of sweeping government layoffs have had their jobs restored permanently,

Secretary Kennedy said he brought back 328 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health employees, including those overseeing coal miner and 9/11 screenings.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reinstated nearly 200 workers who screen coal miners for black lung, an incurable progressive disease caused by long-term exposure to coal

Out of the three deaths in this outbreak, two of them have been of unvaccinated children. Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan asked Kennedy if he would vaccinate his own children today, to which Kennedy replied "probably" for measles, adding that "what I would say is my opinions about vaccines are irrelevant."

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended cutting thousands of staff while attacking the agency’s past work in one of his first appearances before Congress since taking office.