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Photo: Surface mining operation. Credit: MSHA / U.S. Department of Labor
MSHA Closures Halted After Pushback
In late May, the Trump administration reversed its plan to close more than 30 field offices of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The decision followed months of pushback from coal miners, health experts, advocacy groups, and elected officials.
ACLC contributed to this effort by publishing an analysis in March showing that inspectors at the targeted offices had conducted nearly 17,000 safety inspections since 2024. Closing these offices would have forced inspectors to travel greater distances, reducing timely, on-site inspections and increasing the risk of toxic dust exposure, workplace injuries, and fatalities.
Our report was cited by mine safety advocates and covered widely in both regional and national media, including The Washington Post. It was also referenced by members of Congress in a formal letter to the Department of Labor, which oversees MSHA.
Another win for miner health and safety came from a coalition of legal advocates and grassroots groups in West Virginia, who successfully secured an injunction to block staffing cuts at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Silica Dust Rule Enforcement Delayed
While these reversals are victories for coalfield communities, critical protections for miners are still at risk.
In April, MSHA paused enforcement of the long-awaited silica rule, which sets new limits on miners’ exposure to deadly dust, extending the compliance deadline from April 14 to August 18. The agency cited supply challenges linked to restructuring at NIOSH, though those staffing cuts have since been blocked by a federal injunction.
We continue to press for full enforcement of the rule and the protections miners deserve.
In Memory: Tom Bethell Memorial Fund
We’re honored to announce the creation of The Tom Bethell Memorial Fund, established in memory of the longtime labor journalist and advocate for coal miners and working people.
The Memorial Fund will support ACLC’s work at the intersection of labor, health, and environmental justice in Central Appalachia.
Thanks to the generosity of a group of Tom’s friends, if you give now your donation will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact.
Click here to learn more or make a gift:
Equity. Dignity. Protection.
Beyond miner health and safety, ACLC is working to secure clean, affordable water and strengthen long-term flood resilience across Central Appalachia. Your support helps power every part of this mission.
