October 16, 2025 - Bill Hatfield of Pike County spent 22 years underground, mining in Kentucky.

Hatfield, now 68, was 36 when he was diagnosed with black lung disease, a condition that has only worsened decades after he left the mines, he said.

“Once a year now they do a CT scan on my lungs,” Hatfield said. “The last two CT scans, they have progressively got worse, and that’s what happens with silica over time. It doesn’t get better; it only gets worse.”

Hatfield and dozens of others who have suffered because their time in the mines rallied Tuesday outside the Labor Department.

They want to see the Trump administration enforce a Mine Safety and Health Administration rule that was finalized under the Biden administration to reduce miners’ exposure to silica dust, which can cause black lung disease.

Advocates said those protections haven’t gone into effect because of a court decision putting the rule on hold pending a legal challenge from mining industry groups.

“Let’s stop the killing in Appalachia,” said Cecil Roberts, president of United Mine Workers of America. “We’re a proud people. We’re proud of our country. We’re proud of what we do. This country owes coal miners so much.”

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, sent a letter to the Labor Department urging it to implement the rule.

“The Department has continued to delay the Silica Dust Rule further and further from its compliance dates citing ‘NIOSH restructuring’ and litigation,” McGarvey wrote. “Our miners and their families can’t afford any further delays.”

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement:

“President Trump cares deeply about unleashing America’s energy potential, as well as standing up for those who fuel our country, such as hardworking coal miners. Blue collar Americans played a key role in sending President Trump back to the White House because they know he has their back … he is working tirelessly to deliver policies that improve the livelihoods of working families across the nation.” 

Labor Department spokesperson Courtney Parella said in a statement:

“We appreciate miners and their vital role in unleashing American energy dominance. Our rulemaking process is unfortunately on hold because of Democrats’ government shutdown.”

Hatfield appreciates President Donald Trump’s efforts to revive the coal industry, but he needs to do more to protect those still in the mines, he said.

“I think he supports miners, and he’s for coal, but I think this is something that he needs to support now, and that’s why we’re here,” said Hatfield.