The Trump administration’s recent actions to expand coal mining in the US while simultaneously cutting funding to agencies responsible for ensuring miner health and safety have raised concerns among advocates and industry experts. Despite executive orders aimed at reviving the coal industry, the lack of protections for miners’ health and safety poses a significant challenge. The shrinking coal industry, accounting for only 15% of US power generation, faces stiff competition from natural gas, wind, and solar energy sources due to their cost-effectiveness.

The administration’s decision to cut nearly a quarter of the workforce at the Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), has drawn criticism. The elimination of key programs and offices focused on mine safety and health, such as X-ray screening for black lung and regional MSHA offices, has sparked fears about the well-being of coal miners.

Of particular concern is the delay in enforcing a rule on silica dust exposure, a severe form of pneumoconiosis affecting miners. The move to halt enforcement raises alarms among mine and steel unions, who argue that the government is failing to protect workers’ health. Experts like Dr. Greg Wagner express profound dismay over the cuts to NIOSH, emphasizing the long-lasting impacts on public health research and safety measures. The push to rebuild what NIOSH has achieved highlights the critical need for sustained efforts to safeguard the well-being of coal miners and workers in high-risk environments.