April 10, 2025 - The United Mine Workers of America is “appreciative” of President Donald Trump’s executive orders on coal, according to a statement released Wednesday.

Trump signed a series of executive orders during an event Tuesday attended by Gov. Patrick Morrisey and members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation that are aimed at boosting coal production and extending the life of coal-fired power plants.

“We are appreciative of the President’s initiative and his recognition of the critical role coal miners have played — and continue to play — in powering our nation,” said UMWA President Cecil Roberts. “This executive action represents a welcome and much-needed step forward for our members and their communities. We believe it will help maintain coal miners’ jobs for several years to come and can offer a meaningful short-term solution to the decline in coal employment.”

Trump signed four orders, with provisions including:

• Reinvigorating the country’s “Beautiful Clean Coal Industry”;

• Preventing what the administration classifies as overreach by state governments;

• Strengthening the reliability of the nation’s electric grid.

Roberts also encouraged Trump take additional actions to support coal miners and coal-producing regions.

“Coal miners and their communities need more than a temporary reprieve. We want coal workers to have good, stable jobs not just for the next four years, but for the next 40,” he said. “That future must be built with sustainable policy, investment in new technologies like carbon capture and storage, and support for the economic diversification of coal-producing regions. The UMWA stands ready to work with the administration to secure a lasting future for our members and their families.”