Wed Jul 16 21:28:11 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Mining Push in Wyoming Sparks Safety Concerns
**CHEYENNE, WYOMING** – President Donald Trump’s renewed commitment to boosting the mining industry is being met with both optimism and apprehension in Wyoming, a state that provides nearly 40% of the nation’s coal. While industry leaders are celebrating Trump’s promise to roll back regulations, some workers fear the changes could come at the expense of their health and safety.
Wyoming overwhelmingly supported Trump in the recent election, drawn to his promises of revitalizing the coal industry and unlocking the state’s vast trona reserves. Trump administration actions, such as reopening the Powder River Basin to coal leases and slashing renewable energy subsidies, have been welcomed by mining executives hopeful for a resurgence.
However, concerns are mounting over proposed cuts to safety oversight. Miners successfully protested the closure of Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) field offices, but substantial staffing cuts to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the research arm dedicated to worker safety, have ignited further outrage.
Union leaders like Cecil Roberts of the United Mine Workers of America have denounced the cuts, highlighting the importance of NIOSH’s research, particularly black lung screenings, for protecting miners’ lives.
Adding to the anxiety is the delayed implementation of a new rule that would lower acceptable levels of silica dust in mines, a known carcinogen. United Steelworkers representative Marshal Cummings, representing trona miners in southwest Wyoming, expressed concerns about silica exposure in the state’s deep mines, some reaching depths of 1,600 feet. He accuses mining executives of prioritizing profits over worker well-being.
Travis Deti, director of the Wyoming Mining Association, defended the industry, stating the silica rule was an “overreach” and his members “mitigate their silica issues appropriately.” He also expressed optimism that Trump’s policies would stabilize the coal industry.
Economists, however, remain skeptical of a long-term coal resurgence, citing market attrition and competition from cheaper energy sources. Robert Godby, an economics professor at the University of Wyoming, noted that even relaxed regulations won’t guarantee long-term investment in coal due to utilities’ concerns about future greenhouse gas regulations.
Despite the uncertainty, some local leaders like Rusty Bell of Energy Capital Economic Development remain hopeful that Trump’s policies could provide a short-term economic boost, allowing communities to diversify their economies. The debate underscores the complex balancing act between economic growth and worker safety in Wyoming’s vital mining industry.
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