Christine Ho, christine.ho@sierraclub.org
Washington, D.C - The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has taken aim at its next government agency to shutter—the Office of Mine Safety and Health Administration. According to a list of proposed lease cancellations, 35 MSHA offices are scheduled for closure in the coming months.
MSHA was created in 1977 to address the massive casualties and injuries in the coal mining industry, and advocate for workplace protections and safety measures to protect miners. Since its inception, mining-related deaths have dropped from the thousands to 31 deaths last year.
In response, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Director Laurie Williams issued the following statement:
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk are simultaneously pushing for more deadly and expensive coal, while taking away protections for the miners whom they rely on to produce more coal. As if we needed any more proof of their real intentions, it is obvious that Trump and Musk’s objective is not to protect our communities or return taxpayer dollars, but to make more money for millionaires at the cost of everyday Americans.
“By closing local Mine Safety and Health Administration offices, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are making it easier for coal companies to cut corners on safety regulations and boost their profits by risking the lives of their workers.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.