Trump plan would close dozens of mine safety offices, leaving coal towns exposed

The Trump administration plans to shutter 35 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) field offices, alarming miners and advocates who fear fewer inspections and oversight in coal country.

Katie Myers reports for Grist.

In short:

• Fifteen of the 35 MSHA offices marked for closure are in Appalachia, where many of the country’s remaining and most dangerous underground coal mines are located.
• The agency has struggled with staffing shortfalls for years, often missing inspection targets despite a mandate to monitor mines regularly.
• Advocates say closures will distance inspectors from mining sites, delay responses to safety violations, and risk a repeat of disasters like the 2010 Upper Big Branch explosion.

Key quote:

“Miners are going to die. And nobody but their families are going to care.”

— Libby Lindsay, retired West Virginia coal miner

Why this matters:

Historically, mine safety has relied heavily on local inspectors who understand the terrain, the companies, and the risks. Recent efforts to consolidate or close local offices, especially in coal country, risk weakening the web of accountability that has protected miners for decades.

This shift comes at a time when mining is expanding beyond coal into lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals — materials critical to the clean energy economy but often extracted in complex, hazardous conditions. With regulators spread thinner, the dangers to miners multiply, especially in regions where companies face less public scrutiny.

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