Voices from coal country say closures of MSHA offices will endanger mine safety

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 12:07 AM EDT, April 5, 2025


CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Retired coal miner Stanley “Goose” Stewart questions whether it’s safe for anyone to work in the industry right now. The Department of Government Efficiency, created by President Donald Trump and run by Elon Musk, has been targeting federal agencies for spending cuts. That includes terminating leases for three dozen offices in the Mine Safety and Health Administration, the agency responsible for enforcing mine safety laws. The proposals for MSHA are “idiotic,” Stewart said, and would give coal companies “the green light to do as they please.”

Safety laws and their enforcement played a significant role before and after the Upper Big Branch mine in southern West Virginia blew up 15 years ago Saturday, killing 29 of Stewart’s co-workers. Stewart was there that day but soon stepped away for good, focusing on his love for hunting, fishing and tending to his chickens and his garden when the weather warms.

Coal mining in West Virginia, meanwhile, spent the ensuing years in a political fight that Republicans largely won. As a 2016 presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton was slammed for saying that her plans to shift away from carbon-based fuels like coal would put miners out of business. Trump vowed to save the industry, and while mining jobs have not made a comeback, coal states like West Virginia have become reliable Republican strongholds.

Advocates for the mining industry argue that state government is up to the task of keeping mines safe, although some lawmakers in West Virginia’s Republican majority have used the existence of federal inspectors as justification for curtailing the state inspectors’ enforcement power. They also point to the dwindling number of mining fatalities — and mines in general.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/doge-mine-safety-lease-msha-77398316612fbbefbd4de1800ecd057f

---

Here is their ridiculous mentality (quote from one of the WV state GOP Reps) -

“It’s going to take time and there’s going to be some pain for all the American people, I think,” he said. “But if we can hang in there and battle through, we all may be better off. I hope so.”

The first 45 administration lead to the death of over a million Americans, many who insisted on "hang(ing) in there" by not getting vaccinated (and infecting other people while doing that).

[DavidDvorkin]

1. I worked for MSHA decades ago

The mining companies hated us, especially the coal companies. They hated the safety procedures MSHA required, and they hated (possibly even more) having to report incidents.

Now they have their wish.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Most if not all of "regulated industry"

(and my agency had Investigators and Inspectors too and as a labby, I went out with them on numerous occasions in a joint effort) HATE those inspections and inspectors.

It is sad that people working in these industries are going to have to learn "the hard way" about why there are "regulations" in the first place.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. Regulations are written in blood.

[mercuryblues]

2. Enough people in WV

Decided that a thieving, liar, rapist would make a better president than a black woman.

They got what they voted for.

[doc03]

4. But Joe Manchin, Jim Justice and Don Blankenship love the idea. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Makes you long for the days of

John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (who is still around). It's been 10 years (Capito replaced him).

[republianmushroom]

6. As JD Vane told

Paycheck-to-Paycheck Americans to Suck Up Tariffs Pain, suck up your mine safety pain. You have to take one for the trumper. Well maybe more than one, but, just suck it up for the trumper.

[Norrrm]

7. Who cares if some miners die for poor safety? There are plenty of unemployed ones available.

to the max. Even though, it is true.

But Trump got all the coal jobs back like he promised, didn't he?

Promises made. Promises kept.

OK! That was more

[Grins]

8. Great! I love this!

During Bush II years there was a mine collapse. Miners trapped. Only people and equipment handy to dig them out - the federal government. ONE agency had the equipment and expertise to save those miners.

A year later Republicans in Congress tried to kill off that agency.

So do it. Kill it off. Let those who voted for Republicans PERSONALLY feel the impact of what they voted for.

[Jean Genie]

9. What does it matter?

King Donald and his minions will never have to set foot in a dirty old mine. And you, his "beloved," yet insignificant sycophants, will be not only pleased, but honored to die in a mine should the orange god of destruction wishes it so!

[Bengus81]

11. Mango Mussolini never opened those coal mines in his first term as promised

after WV people voted for him. They rewarded his LYING by voting for him in 2020 and 2024 by nearly 70%. They voted for him in a slightly higher percentage each election for Trump LYING to them.

FAFO

Hey fuck em. I don't really care.........

[Martin68]

12. Mine safety was already vastly under-enforced.

[FakeNoose]

13. Remember when Hillary Clinton told the miners of West Virginia to retrain for new jobs

... while they still can, because coal jobs are GONE? They hated that message but she was right.

Coal mining is a dangerous, hazardous, exploitive industry and most of the coal mines can no longer turn a profit. (I'm talking about the underground mines, not the surface/strip mines.) Chump is making sure that the federal funds will never be available for safety upgrades, and he's effectively killing off whatever is left of the coal business. The last coal miners who haven't been laid off yet, will be risking their lives every time they enter a mine. The threats include work-related injuries, shortened lifespans and black-lung disease.

[Botany]

14. Attn: Coal miners, former coal miners, coal mining areas, and communities. FAFO

Anybody seen that leopard?



Btw miners for Trump was a Russian front.