Miners and their advocates worry that DOGE's cuts to the Mine Safety and Health Administration will put them at risk.

DOGE terminated leases for more mine safety offices in Kentucky than any other state, a move advocates say comes at the expense of miners' health.

Rates of black lung disease have increased over recent decades — and in Kentucky and other parts of central Appalachia, one in five coal miners suffer from it, according to recent research.

“Thousands of coal miners disabled by black lung disease and their dependents rely on federal black lung benefits,” Commissioner Sherene Hess said, “including, in fiscal year 2024, 1,471 ...

Last month, the Trump administration nominated mining industry association executive Wayne Palmer to head MSHA.

With a few exceptions, most remaining coal mining in Kentucky consists of small ... testified Courtney Rhoades, black lung organizer for the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, which opposes ...

Carbon County has a long history in coal mining. For hundreds of years, the region, which is known as the Coal Region, has been a large source of anthracite coal to heat homes, power operations and ...

But before that he was a coal miner, which was not uncommon ... the overriding cause of death was either black lung or a mining accident.” More: How Vineland Mayor Fanucci made history this ...