Just months ago, coal miners gathered at the White House, standing proudly behind President Trump in their hard hats, grateful for his efforts to revitalize their struggling industry.
However, a different scene is set to unfold as dozens of miners and their families will protest outside the Labor Department, accusing the Trump administration of neglecting their protection from black lung disease—a devastating, incurable illness caused by inhaling coal and silica dust.
These workers have waited months for federal regulations on silica dust—a known carcinogen linked to a recent surge in black lung cases—to be enforced. Yet, enforcement has been stalled by the Trump administration amid a lawsuit from mining industry groups.
Critics, including labor unions, Democrats, and a growing number of miners, allege that the Trump administration is prioritizing federal subsidies for coal companies over the health and safety of its workers.
“The companies might be getting a handout, but the miners aren’t receiving any of it,” stated Gary Hairston, a 71-year-old retired coal miner from West Virginia and president of the National Black Lung Association, who has lived with the disease since his forties.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly responded, asserting that President Trump “cares deeply about unleashing America’s energy potential, as well as standing up for those who fuel our country” like coal miners.
Kelly added that “blue collar Americans played a key role in sending President Trump back to the White House because they know he has their back,” emphasizing his dedication to policies improving the lives of working families nationwide.
However, Ms. Kelly did not specify whether the administration intends to revise or repeal the controversial silica dust regulation.
The dangers of coal dust have been recognized by the federal government since 1969, following the passage of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. This landmark legislation established health and safety benchmarks for coal mining and mandated federal inspections and monitoring for black lung disease.
Despite decades of progress, the disease has alarmingly resurfaced, affecting younger workers disproportionately due to exposure to silica dust. Experts attribute this to evolving mining techniques; with thicker coal seams in regions like Appalachia largely depleted, miners are now cutting through more rock, increasing their exposure to this hazardous dust.
Silica dust, comprised of minute crystals, causes inflammation and scarring when inhaled, making it approximately 20 times more toxic to the lungs than coal dust. Prolonged exposure can also lead to lung cancer and kidney disease.
The previous administration had established limits on miners’ exposure to silica dust, aligning with federal rules for construction and other industries. These regulations mandated immediate corrective actions from mine operators when exposure limits were surpassed, with estimates suggesting the rule could prevent over a thousand deaths and thousands of black lung cases.
Andy Martin, a 68-year-old retired miner from Norton, Virginia, who spent nearly five decades working in Wyoming and Virginia before his black lung diagnosis, stressed the critical importance of these regulations for the survival of the mining workforce. Historically seen as an ailment of older workers, black lung is now tragically being diagnosed in miners as young as their 30s and 40s.
A 2018 study revealed that over 10 percent of coal miners with at least 25 years of experience suffered from black lung disease. In key coal-mining states like Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia, where many rally attendees reside, this figure climbs to 20 percent among veteran miners.
“It’s not the coal that’s harming them, it’s the silica,” explained Mr. Martin, frequently pausing to cough during a recent interview. “We must act now for the sake of the younger generation.”
Despite being scheduled for implementation in April, silica exposure limits faced legal challenges from industry groups, including the National Sand Stone and Gravel Association and the National Mining Association. They sought to block the rule in federal appeals court, citing potential financial burdens on mine operators.
Conor Bernstein, a spokesman for the National Mining Association, affirmed their support for “the new lower levels.” However, while current regulations mandate reducing silica concentration through improved ventilation and dust control, the association advocates for increased reliance on personal protective equipment—a stance criticized by miners’ advocates as impractical and ineffective.
The Trump administration, rather than defending the silica rule in court, agreed to postpone its enforcement. It further sought to prevent labor unions and a lung health association from joining the case, and this month requested another delay, citing the recent government shutdown.
Both Republican senators from West Virginia, Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, chose not to comment on the regulation or the ongoing delays.
Democrats and labor unions have criticized the Trump administration, alleging that it uses coal miners for political photo opportunities while disregarding their critical health concerns.
Jason Walsh, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance—a coalition of labor unions and environmental organizations—stated, “The Trump administration was given the means to protect against black lung, and they are doing everything in their power to discard those rules.”
Senator Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, warned that abandoning the silica standards “would be a significant betrayal of those who tirelessly work to power our communities.”
Since his initial presidential campaign in 2016, where he frequently appeared with miners, President Trump has been a vocal proponent of the coal industry. Upon re-entering the White House, he has actively promoted increased coal mining and combustion, blocked the closure of financially struggling coal plants, rescinded environmental regulations opposed by the industry, and allocated $625 million in subsidies to support coal facilities.
Once supplying almost half of America’s electricity, coal now accounts for a mere 16 percent. Since the mid-2000s, hundreds of coal plants have closed, as utility companies shifted towards more economical alternatives like natural gas, wind, and solar energy.
Judith Riffe, 80, whose husband, Bernard, passed away in March due to complications from black lung disease after dedicating over 40 years to West Virginia’s coal mines, asserted that miners deserve an administration that champions their welfare with the same fervor it applies to coal companies.
“Of course, they talk about how much they care about coal, but come down here and see for yourselves,” Ms. Riffe urged from her home in Wyco, a community in West Virginia that once prospered from coal.
She continued, “They’re mining significantly more now; coal trucks are constantly moving, yet there are no benefits filtering down to the coal miners.”
Her final sentiment: “The coal miners have powered this country with electricity, and now they are simply cast aside to perish.”