The Weekly Production / Consumption Report: Week 41 (Oct. 11) has been posted.

Remarkably, Russia’s coal export revenues are larger than both those of pipeline gas and pipeline crude oil, totaling an estimated $31 billion per year.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright today announced the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office closed a loan guarantee to strengthen grid reliability and ensure lower electricity costs across the midwestern region of the United States.

Federal officials rejected a mining company's bid for more than 6 million tons of coal beneath a national forest in Utah, marking the third proposed coal sale from public lands in the West to fall through this month.

Southern West Virginia has struggled over the past few decades, dealing with the loss of its key economic driver — coal production.

Discover the future of construction at CONEXPO-CON/AGG — North America's largest construction trade show — happening March 3–7, 2026 in Las Vegas.

Federal officials rejected a mining company's bid for more than 6 million tons of coal beneath a national forest in Utah, marking the third proposed coal sale from public lands in the West to fall through this month.

This month, we continue our crusade to bring back American energy dominance, uplift the American worker, protect the American industry, cherish American resources, and make America the most prosperous country on the face of the Earth.

My sincere thanks to Senator Brian Helton for joining Talkline Tuesday. Debate is essential — and in an energy state like West Virginia, more debate on energy policy isn’t just healthy, it’s necessary.

The Mitchell Plant needs some costly repairs, and its owner says it intends to seek a federal grant to help pay for it.

The Zacks Manufacturing - Construction and Mining industry has been bearing the brunt of the prolonged contraction in the manufacturing sector.

While the Trump administration and Montana’s elected officials continue pushing to expand the state’s coal industry, companies on the ground appear to have a waning appetite.

Oil, gas and coal will continue to dominate the world’s energy mix well beyond 2050, as soaring electricity demand outpaces the shift to renewables, according to a new McKinsey report.

Wyoming will not wear its traditional home uniform during its college football game against Air Force on Saturday.

India's steel mills secured only about half of their metallurgical coke needs from domestic suppliers in the first half of 2025, highlighting shortages and amplifying their calls for an easing of import curbs on the key steelmaking material.

Chinese coal prices are creeping higher as the weather becomes more unpredictable and the government expands its supervision of mines in a bid to prevent accidents and curb overproduction.

We published our Weekly Coal Production report for the week ending October 11, 2025.

Global coking coal market trends are being shaped by weakening steel production, constrained supply growth and evolving trade patterns, with policy shifts and China’s limited exports influencing the steelmaking coal outlook through 2025.

Miners 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.

The 2025 SME Arizona Conference will feature expert speakers, enlightening technical sessions and lively networking events, providing attendees with another opportunity to advance together during a landmark era for mining in the region.

We have released the Electric Power Annual 2024 (EPA2024) report, which contains final data through 2024.

Compass Wire Cloth, a North American leading manufacturer of separation, sifting, and screening solutions, highlights its Custom-Fabricated Edge Screens designed to deliver superior performance and longevity in demanding screening environments.

The US on Oct. 14 implemented revised port fees on Chinese-linked vessels that are far less stringent than originally proposed, posing less risk to the US coal industry.

Longwall mining represents one of the most sophisticated extraction methods in the coal industry, utilising advanced mechanised systems to achieve unprecedented efficiency rates.

The first sale of coal leases associated with the Trump administration’s push to revitalize the broader coal industry fell flat last week when the Bureau of Land Management received only one bid.

The Wyoming Black Butte mine expansion represents a pivotal development in American energy infrastructure, securing federal approval to extract 9.2 million tons of coal reserves from designated areas known as Pit 15 and Pit 10.

FutureCoal welcomes the US administration’s US$625 million investment to upgrade and modernize coal plants, calling it a pragmatic step forward to achieve energy security and best environmental performance.

Wyoming will debut new black-and-white coal-inspired uniforms on Oct. 25 when it hosts Colorado State in what will be the final meeting between the two Border War rivals as members of the Mountain West Conference.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. electric power sector consumed 15% more coal in the first half of 2025 than in the first half of 2024.

The president's influence creates a 'valuable trading opportunity and extends the runway for coal investments,' portfolio managers say.

Ramaco Resources, Inc., a leading developer of rare earth elements and critical mineral resources, has announced its official approval as a member of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC).

Ben Beakes, President of MCPA, represented the metallurgical coal industry on a global stage this week, speaking before international leaders at the World Steel Association General Assembly in Washington, D.C

The Trump administration is doubling down on efforts to revive the United States' coal industry.

Fitch Ratings expects coal producers with lower cost positions and relatively low debt levels to withstand a prolonged softer price environment after the sharp drop in coal prices since 2024.

We updated our Coal Markets Report for the business week ending October 10, 2025.

The Zacks Coal industry is facing significant headwinds as the use of coal in U.S. thermal power plants continues to decline.

MSHA first released the rule in April 2024 during the Biden administration. It aims to cut miners' exposure limits to silica dust in half and opens the door for mine operators to be cited and fined when miners are overexposed.

The Wyoming Cowboys have unveiled new new black-and-white “coal-inspired” uniforms when they take on Colorado State University Rams on October 25, for their “Border War” game.

Queensland, Australia plans to keep its power stations that burn coal open for longer, threatening the nation’s ambitious goal to more than double renewable generation by the end of the decade.

Jastrzbska Spóka Wglowa (JSW), Europe’s largest coking coal producer, has announced the start of preparatory work for a large-scale business restructuring.

Federal officials have rejected a company’s bid to acquire 167 million tons of coal on public lands in Montana for less than a penny per ton.

Interest in Ramaco Resources (METC) has spiked following China’s decision to tighten export restrictions on rare earth elements.

Miners, their supporters and medical experts rallied in Washington, calling on the Trump administration to enforce black lung protections.

Eriez® has named Chien Dang Tran as Country Manager in Vietnam, reinforcing the company’s commitment to expanding across Southeast Asia while delivering more responsive support for local industries.

Minerva Engineering has announced the release of the Cobalt Dragon™ Microspectrophotometer, a large-format spectroscopic and imaging system engineered for the analysis and development of flat panel displays and other large-scale optical devices.

Warrior Met Coal, Inc. has announced that it will hold its third quarter 2025 investor conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Last Monday, Republican members of the Legislature gathered with West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton and Attorney General J.B. McCuskey to heap praise on President Trump’s latest attempts to pretend coal will make a lasting comeback.

The Zacks Coal industry is facing significant headwinds as the use of coal in U.S. thermal power plants continues to decline.

Morgan McGarvey, the lone congressional Democrat from the coal-producing state of Kentucky, says that while President Donald Trump and Hill Republicans are focused on reviving coal, he’s leaning in on worker health and safety.

The Bureau of Land Management rejected the single bid it received for a major coal lease sale in Montana earlier this week and postponed a subsequent planned sale in Wyoming, an Interior Department spokesperson said.

Last month, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $625 million investment “to expand and reinvigorate America’s coal industry,”.

Appalachian Power submitted its plan for the next 10 years to state regulators, and changes could be coming to its coal plants.

Epiroc AB, a leading productivity and sustainability partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, has won a large order for mining equipment and digital solutions from Asante Gold Corp. for a gold mine in Ghana.

ASGCO, a global leader in bulk material handling, conveying and mining equipment, has announced the grand opening of its new facility in Santiago, Chile.

Headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, RPMGlobal is a leading provider of mining software solutions with a legacy dating back to 1977.

Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP) will report its third quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Monday, October 27, 2025.

The share price of Core Natural Resources, Inc. (NYSE:CNR) surged by 12.45% between October 3 and October 10, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week.

Following market feedback, Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, will streamline its Asia-Pacific metallurgical coal price assessments, effective Jan. 2, 2026.

Black Bear Value Partners, an investment management firm, published its third-quarter 2025 investor letter.

Some 70 energy sector experts from around the world gathered at the International Energy Agency (IEA) headquarters in Paris today to review developments in global natural gas and coal markets and discuss how they may evolve in the years ahead.

Coal miners feel betrayed by President Donald Trump for failing to enforce health regulations to prevent black lung disease.

Appalachian Power, Wheeling Power and FirstEnergy each filed long-term plans required by West Virginia statute on Oct. 1 outlining how they plan to meet their captive ratepayers’ needs over the next decade and beyond.

Will the promise of “clean, beautiful coal” deliver for Montana, or has the Powder River Basin been sold a bag of beans?

“We demand the Department of Labor enforce the new silica rule,” Vonda Robinson, vice president of the association, told the Militant after the meeting ended. From Virginia, she had organized the meeting.

The administration issued layoff notices to thousands of employees Friday, according to federal court documents.

More than 100 House Republican lawmakers, led by Majority Leader Steve Scalise, are calling on the Supreme Court to block climate lawsuits that they say are waging "war on American energy" and could bankrupt the industry, Fox News Digital learned.

The Weekly Production / Consumption Report: Week 40 (Oct. 4) has been posted.

Ramaco has announced that its Chairman and CEO, Randall W. Atkins, will be featured in an upcoming interview with Francine Lacqua on Monday October 13 with Bloomberg Television Europe's Leaders with Lacqua.

Komatsu has announced the arrival of a P&H 2100BL electric rope shovel to serve as a landmark at its Elko, Nevada, campus.

US President Donald Trump appointed dozens of officials with ties to the fossil fuel industry to his administration, including more than 40 from oil, gas, or coal companies, according to a recent report.

West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton is undoubtedly one of the leaders most excited about President Donald Trump’s recently announced $625 million investment in the nation’s coal industry.

Martin Engineering has expanded its popular annual “Go Pink!” program to support the Susan G. Komen® Foundation in its efforts to fund breast cancer education, screening, treatment, and research worldwide.

The Trump administration has issued sweeping orders to federal agencies to remove regulatory hurdles and encourage more coal leasing and coal use.

Ramaco Resources, Inc. has announced that its Chairman and CEO, Randall W. Atkins, will be featured in an upcoming interview with Francine Lacqua on Monday October 13 with Bloomberg Television Europe’s Leaders with Lacqua.

MCPA's 49th Annual Fall Meeting and Awards Banquet is scheduled Thursday, October 30, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m., Russell County Conference Center, 139 Highland Drive, Lebanon, VA 24266.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright and the White House are in conflict over a push to slash up to $30 billion in federal Biden-era clean energy grants.

The Trump Administration recently unveiled a sweeping push to revitalize America’s coal sector, opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for new coal leasing and slashing royalty rates to encourage production.

The Trump administration has issued sweeping orders to federal agencies to remove regulatory hurdles and encourage more coal leasing and coal use.

Appalachian Power submitted its plan for the next 10 years to state regulators, and changes could be coming to its coal plants.

H.J. Res. 104, introduced by U.S. Rep. Troy Downing (R-Mont.), repeals the Biden-era Miles City Field Office RMP Amendment, which locks up more than 2.75 million acres of land and 11.7 million acres of mineral estate in Montana.

The world’s 20 largest fossil fuel producing countries are on track to produce more than twice the amount of coal, oil and gas in 2030 than would be consistent with the global goal to limit warming to 1.5° Celsius (2.7° Fahrenheit).

This past Monday, the largest lease sale for coal by the federal government in over a decade received only one bid. As a result, another coal sale in Wyoming was postponed until further notice.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Black Bear Value Fund highlighted stocks such as Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (NYSE:HCC). Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (NYSE:HCC) produces and exports non-thermal metallurgical coal for the steel industry.

We published our Weekly Coal Production report for the week ending October 4, 2025.

Jimmy Brock is back at the helm of one of the nation’s largest coal companies, Core Natural Resources, which formed from the January merger of Cecil-based Consol Energy Inc. and St. Louis-based Arch Resources.

Becker Mining Systems, a Germany-based global supplier of energy, automation, and infrastructure technology for the mining sector, will establish a new manufacturing operation in Mount Vernon, Ohio.

CFACT joined a coalition letter sent to three top officials urging the Trump Administration not to send a government delegation to COP 30, the UN climate conference in Brazil this November.

Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), a global leader in power technology, has announced its selection for a $2.1M grant.

The SME Board met on Sept. 14, 2025, with President Bill Hancock presiding. Minutes and committee reports were approved, and Melissa Russell was introduced as the Incoming Executive Director and CEO of SME.

Environmental groups are knocking the Trump administration’s decision to open thousands of acres for coal mining that are a stone’s throw away from beloved public lands like Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef national parks.

The Trump administration has postponed a scheduled sale of coal leases on federal lands in Wyoming two days after a disappointing auction in Montana, an Interior Department spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The latest round of efforts by US government officials to support the coal industry may provide a short-term boost to the fuel's use, but not alter its long-term decline.

Core Natural Resources has parted ways with its chief executive, Paul Lang, and named its chairman, James Brock, to the additional post of CEO.

Reflectance is a portfolio of active metallurgical coal producing mines in Wyoming County, West Virginia consisting of the Coal Mountain complex and adjacent mining operations.

IMARC 2025 is set to become Australia's most significant mining event of the year, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and international delegations at the Sydney ICC from October 21-23.

No one has sounded the alarm louder about the nation’s eroding grid reliability than former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Mark Christie.

Becker Mining Systems supplies energy, automation, communication, transportation, and infrastructure technology for the mining industry.

The Trump administration outlined a plan to mine and generate more electricity from coal.

Good worksite housekeeping can significantly reduce miners’ exposure to respirable dust and silica, the Mine Safety and Health Administration says in a recently published health alert.

Representatives from across the energy industry, international institutions, governments and academia gather at IEA headquarters in Paris to discuss implications of latest market trends and policy moves.

Core Natural Resources, Inc. has announced that its board of directors has appointed Core's board chair, Jimmy Brock, to the additional role of chief executive officer, effective immediately.

Eagle Summit Resources (ESR) has announced the purchase of Reflectance Energy, bringing the company’s Reflectance coal mining complex under its new ownership as Eagle Mountain Energy.

Ramaco Resources, Inc. has announced that Randall W. Atkins, Chairman and CEO, will deliver a featured address today at the 7th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Gas and Coal Market Outlooks, hosted by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, France.

There’s no clean energy revolution afoot, and climate change isn’t an existential crisis. You’re just looking at the data incorrectly.

The ground under Kelley McCreery’s boots was hot. The Campbell County commissioner stood in a crater pockmarking the bone dry prairie, poking a stick into a blackened crevice.

We updated the annual historical data for our Annual Electric Power Industry Report to include 2024.

We expect the increase in coal consumption in the electric power sector to slow, rising by 4% in 2H25 compared with 2H24.

West Virginia Attorney General John "JB" McCuskey said Monday that his office is helping lead a new multi-state investigation into big tech firms, alleging they exaggerate their clean-energy commitments — a practice known as "greenwashing."

EIA forecasts in its October Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) that U.S. crude oil production will average 13.5 million barrels per day in both 2025 and 2026, both slightly higher than the agency’s September forecast.

Barron’s Laura Sanicola discusses the Trump administration’s plan for expanding coal plants with Charles Dayton, associate director of research and analysis at OPIS.

MCPA's 49th Annual Fall Meeting and Awards Banquet is scheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m., Russell County Conference Center,139 Highland Drive, Lebanon, VA 24266.

Coal has long been a cornerstone of ASEAN’s energy system, underpinning economic development, energy security, and industrialization.

A Navajo tribe-owned company bid $186,000 to lease 167 million tons of coal on federal lands in southeastern Montana on Monday in the biggest U.S. coal sale in more than a decade.

A large group of Republican legislators flanked West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton as he checked off the numerous executive actions taken by the Trump administration.

Families and small businesses across the commonwealth of Kentucky depend on affordable and reliable power. That’s why maintaining a balanced energy mix, anchored by coal, is crucial to ensuring a robust economy for future generations.

The Weekly Production / Consumption Report: Week 39 (Sept. 27) has been posted.

State and local leaders gathered at the West Virginia State Capitol lower rotunda Monday afternoon to highlight the Trump administration’s $625 million investment to America’s coal industry.

The 22nd Annual Old Construction & Mining Equipment Show/8th Annual Appalachian Ohio Antique Power Show will be held October 25 and 26, 2025 at 761 Scott Featner Rd Mingo Junction Ohio.

We updated our Coal Markets Report for the business week ending October 3, 2025.

MCPA's 49th Annual Fall Meeting and Awards Banquet is scheduled Thursday, October 30, 2025.

West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton is undoubtedly one of the leaders most excited about President Donald Trump’s recently announced $625 million investment in the nation’s coal industry.

As Wyoming looks to revitalize the coal industry, Governor Mark Gordon discussed the new policies and technologies aimed at boosting production and capturing CO2 emissions during a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Jim Boyd Addresses KVMI Regarding WVU Scholarship Program

America's Coal Revolution 2025 Conference & Exhibit will be held October 20-21, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

U.S. officials in the coming days are set to hold the government's biggest coal sales in more than a decade, offering 600 million tons from publicly owned reserves next to strip mines in Montana and Wyoming.

The Trump administration recently announced a pair of initiatives to boost the U.S. coal industry and increase coal production.

The glory days of Lynch, Kentucky when coal was king and U.S. Steel set up one of the largest coal camps in the world at the bottom of Black Mountain may be over, but the former coal town is still in production.

Peabody Energy has welcomed sweeping support from the Trump administration, including the opening of millions of acres of federal land for coal mining, hundreds of millions in new funding for coal power generation, and regulatory rollbacks.

U.S. officials in the coming days are set to hold the government’s biggest coal sales in more than a decade, offering 600 million tons from publicly owned reserves next to strip mines in Montana and Wyoming.

Coal—the dominant fuel in the U.S., before it was steadily replaced by cheaper and cleaner energy sources—has found new life under President Donald Trump.

U.S. officials in the coming days are set to hold the government's biggest coal sales in more than a decade, offering 600 million tons from publicly owned reserves next to strip mines in Montana and Wyoming.

West Virginia Coal Association President Chris Hamilton is undoubtedly one of the leaders most excited about President Donald Trump’s recently announced $625 million investment in the nation’s coal industry.

Eagle Summit Resources (ESR) on Friday announced the purchase of Reflectance Energy, bringing the company’s Reflectance coal mining complex under its new ownership as Eagle Mountain Energy.

Terex 120: Redefining Heavy Equipment Skill

Duke Energy plans to burn coal for two to four years longer than previously estimated, which will result in millions of tons in additional greenhouse gases over the next decade when combined with other proposed changes to the utility’s fuel mix.

Caterpillar has placed a significant $1.1 billion bid for RPMGlobal, valuing the mining software company at $5 per share—representing a 32.6% premium over its pre-announcement trading price.

Has the Department of Energy analyzed the projected increase in costs to ratepayers that will result from its stated campaign to keep uneconomic coal plants operational?

Wyoming Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis released the following statements after attending a joint Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy event on unleashing America’s coal production.

This issue features a research report funded by the CPSA fellowship program on Evaluating the Production of Low Ash Yield Clean Coal for Specialty Carbon Projects.

An increasing urgency permeates the national dialogue around data centers, generative AI and the critical role of energy to fuel these industries.

A coal miner from Virginia has filed a federal class-action lawsuit accusing United Coal Company, Wellmore Coal Company, and Wellmore Energy of illegally withholding overtime pay from workers at mines along the Kentucky-Virginia border.

Reliable, affordable, plentiful power is back at the center of national policy.

Coal’s health and climate impacts get no mention in the administration’s latest attempt to breathe life back into the industry.

13.1 million acres of federal land are now open for coal leasing, including the Cowboy State of Wyoming.

Leaders in West Virginia are cheering on Trump’s recently announced effort to aggressively invest in coal, but residents have been feeling the consequences of being forced to rely on energy that is no longer economically viable.

A handful of congressional Republicans are breaking with President Donald Trump and party leadership over their renewed push to boost coal-fired power generation.

Coal mining is expected to grow in Tuscaloosa County after Warrior Met Coal submitted the highest bid in a Bureau of Land Management coal lease sale Tuesday.

Macquarie is expecting that coking coal prices will eventually climb above $200/tonne in the long term, reaching a more sustainable range driven by emerging cost support, Kallanish notes.

After deciding against another political campaign last year, former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin has been named a director for one of the country’s top coal producers which has ties to West Virginia.

On September 29, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum signed a policy initiative that seeks to “unshackle” coal by opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing and reducing the coal royalty rate to 7%.

Anglo American has initiated arbitration proceedings against Peabody Energy in response to the termination of a purchase agreement for the British mining giant's steelmaking coal assets, the US-based company said on Friday.

EPA has proposed to rollback: 1) the Clean Air and Water Act, section 111, and 2) MATS, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for power plants, back levels established in 2012.

Warrior Met Coal Mining, LLC in Brookwood, Alabama was expected to win bidding on the giant federal coal leases available in North Tuscaloosa County.

Alpha Metallurgical Resources Third Quarter 2025 Results Conference Call.

Codelco has announced plans to test the Cat® Dynamic Energy Transfer (DET) system with its fleet of diesel-electric extraction trucks in the Radomiro Tomic Division.

Montana Technological University will recognize two Chancellor’s Award of Distinction recipients and four Distinguished Alumni recipients at the Butte Country Club on Friday, October 3, 2025 at 6 p.m.

The struggling Dartbrook Coal Mine in the Hunter Valley has officially entered mothballed status, marking another chapter in its troubled history.

We published our Weekly Coal Production report for the week ending September 27, 2025.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, on Tuesday, detailed ways that the Trump Administration is working to expand coal production after years of Democrat Administrations writing off the industry as dead.

Growing interest in artificial intelligence and data centers has spurred a new surge in electricity demand that is keeping coal-burning plants open past their scheduled closure dates.

The Trump administration's promises of federal land leases and loans for the power sector may lead to a temporary and uneven improvement in coal's situation.

The Trump Administration’s announcements to reinvigorate and expand America’s coal industry includes a $625 million investment aimed at keeping existing coal plants open.

The reintroduction of federal coal lease auctions represents a significant shift in US energy policy, offering nearly 600 million tons of recoverable coal across four states.

This may be hard to digest for some, but the United States needs to ramp up both coal production and coal powered generation.

Welcome to the October 2025 edition of CORESafety TV, brought to you by the National Mining Association (NMA).

Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc., a leading U.S. supplier of metallurgical products for the steel industry, plans to announce its third quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey assesses the Trump administration directing $625 million towards reviving the coal industry on ‘The Bottom Line.’

The Senate plans to invoke cloture on executive branch nominations en bloc, bypassing individual floor debates and separate roll calls.

FutureCoal welcomes the U.S. administration’s USD 625 million investment to upgrade and modernize coal plants, calling it a pragmatic step forward to achieve energy security and best environmental performance.

The Obama and Biden administrations' "War on Coal" is coming to an end.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) is seeking proposals from companies to build and power AI data centers at DOE’s Oak Ridge Reservation.

The Bureau of Land Management coal lease sale in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, generated over $46 million in revenue and will give access to 53 million tons of metallurgical coal on 14,050 acres of federal mineral estate.

The Trump administration has announced plans to open 13 million acres of federal land for coal mining, as part of President Donald Trump's aim to bolster the shrinking U.S. coal industry.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) will be able to operate for a period of time during the lapse in appropriations.