July 18, 2025 - Environmental and consumer advocacy groups are urging senators to reject President Donald Trump’s pick to serve as the nation’s top coal mining regulator.

More than a dozen groups including Earthjustice and Public Citizen called on Democratic members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to vote down Trump’s nomination of Lanny Erdos to serve as head of the Interior Department’s Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation. The groups said they are crafting a second letter that will go to all committee members.

The agency oversees state coal mine regulators and administers a multibillion-dollar abandoned mine cleanup program. The panel planned to vote last week but postponed the session.

The groups pointed to Erdos’ long history working in the coal sector, past efforts to weaken regulations during Trump’s first term, and allegations he violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act while leading the agency.