Cut the number of federal coal-reclamation field inspectors

What has happened

1. Aug 27, 2026 Not started

   The number of federal coal-reclamation field inspectors has not been reduced. OSMRE's FY2027 justification holds Environmental Protection — the activity that funds federal inspection and oversight — at 124 FTE, unchanged from the FY2026 enacted level, with a net program increase of $111 thousand and no FTE change in any subactivity; the only staffing-relevant reduction is $2.1 million from State Program Evaluation at flat FTE. Interior did shift work away from federal inspectors by amending its cooperative agreement with West Virginia on 2026-02-18, giving the state the lead on "permitting, inspections and enforcement for both privately owned and federally leased coal operations" while OSMRE "will maintain federal oversight" — a transfer of workload with no corresponding cut in posts on the record.

   • Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement FY2027 Budget Justifications and Performance Information

     Primary Executive branch Apr 1, 2026

   • Interior press release: Department of the Interior and West Virginia Sign Agreement Expanding State Oversight of Coal Mining on Federal Land

     Primary Executive branch Feb 18, 2026