 Energy & Environment |
Energy & Environment |
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Safety official firings cause concerns for miners |
Reported firings at federal offices are creating concerns about the safety and health of coal miners. |
On Tuesday, massive layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) were expected to result in 873 staff cuts from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), according to CBS News. This agency conducts research and makes recommendations to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. The NIOSH layoffs — along with other recent Trump administration actions — prompted the United Mine Workers of America Union, whose workers face issues like black lung disease, to question whether there's now a "war" on coal miners. "The announced significant downsizing of offices in Morgantown, W.Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa., are particularly devastating to the coal industry, which relies on the research done there to improve its safety practices," said union international president Cecil Roberts. Union spokesperson Erin Bates noted that the Morgantown office controls the respiratory disease division. "Without those resources, it's going to be extremely hard to monitor and control the effects of silica dust levels in the mine," she said. Exposure to silica dust can cause severe lung disease. The reported NIOSH layoffs come as part of larger firings at HHS as the agency seeks to restructure. Reached for comment, an HHS spokesperson directed The Hill toward its larger restructuring plans, which said it was firing 10,000 employees and placing NIOSH within a new agency called the Administration for a Healthy America. Read more at TheHill.com. |
Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. |
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How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: |
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Nearly 40 percent of Americans experienced extreme weather last year — and those who did were more likely to be concerned about climate change, according to new polling. |
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin said Monday that he is shutting down a museum in the EPA’s headquarters in an effort to cut costs. |
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U.S. manufacturers are sounding worried about the Trump administration's trade policies ahead of a hotly anticipated announcement on tariffs that's expected from the White House on Wednesday. |
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News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: |
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Big banks predict catastrophic warming, with profit potential (E&E News) White House weighs executive order to fast-track deep-sea mining, sources say (Reuters)
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing to consider President Trump's picks for the No. 2 spots at Interior and Energy, Katharine MacGregor and James Danly, respectively.
- The House Natural Resources Committee is slated to hold a hearing titled "Unleashing the Golden Age of American Energy Dominance"
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Two key stories on The Hill right now: |
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House Republican leaders on Tuesday canceled votes for the rest of the week after a band of GOP lawmakers staged a rebellion on the floor, bringing legislative action to a screeching halt. Read more |
| Wisconsin voters are heading to the polls Tuesday to determine the partisan tilt of their state’s top court in what is shaping up to be one of the first major referenda on President Trump’s second term. Read more |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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