President Donald Trump’s aggressive push for more mining in the U.S. — from coal to critical minerals — clashes with his administration’s plan to close dozens of mine safety offices, advocates warn.
Elon Musk’s government-slashing “Department of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE, is proposing to end leases on more than 30 regional buildings where mine safety inspectors work, according to a report from the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center. DOGE’s bid comes right as the president doubles down on ramping up mining across the nation through executive orders and possibly by designating coal as a critical mineral, which would open projects to streamlined permitting and federal funding.
DOGE’s plan would affect Mine Safety and Health Administration offices in a host of states, from lithium-rich Nevada to Pennsylvania, a coal mining powerhouse.
Laurie Williams, who directs the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, criticized the administration for trying to boost mining while DOGE moves to scrap leases tied to buildings used by workers for the Office of Mine Safety and Health Administration.
