United States (AP)- In a significant reversal, the Trump administration is dropping plans to shut down dozens of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) offices, which are crucial to protecting the health and safety of miners nationwide.
The Department of Labor confirmed Thursday that it will no longer pursue the termination of 34 MSHA office leases, a move previously proposed to cut federal spending.
The cuts had been championed by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, led by Elon Musk, who announced his departure from the role earlier this week.
Seven of the offices were in Kentucky, and their closure was expected to save $18 million.
However, critics warned that the cuts would have placed undue strain on MSHA’s already limited resources, forcing inspectors to travel farther and limiting oversight in high-risk mining areas.
In a statement, the Labor Department said it is working with the General Services Administration to ensure inspectors have the tools they need to carry out their mission: to prevent injury, illness, and fatalities in America’s mines.
According to the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, staff at the targeted offices conducted nearly 17,000 health and safety inspections between January 2024 and February 2025.
Over the past decade, m-s-h-a has seen staffing cut by more than a quarter–including a 50% reduction in coal mine enforcement personnel.
Coal country advocates say the battle isn’t over, but the announcement is a step toward protecting the lives and health of miners nationwide.
