Trump Administration Approves Rosebud Mine Expansion Montana Delegation Fought For

HELENA, MT — The Trump administration has approved a major expansion of the Rosebud Mine in southeastern Montana, delivering on the policy reversal that the state’s congressional delegation pushed for when they introduced legislation to overturn federal coal leasing restrictions.

The Department of the Interior announced Monday it had approved a mining plan modification for the Rosebud Mine in Rosebud and Treasure counties, extending operations through 2039 and protecting more than 300 coal industry jobs.

In July, Montana’s entire congressional delegation introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution targeting the Bureau of Land Management’s Miles City Resource Management Plan Amendment, which prohibited new federal coal leasing on 1.7 million acres in eastern Montana. The plan threatened to limit future mining operations and force closures years ahead of schedule.

Governor Greg Gianforte praised the Trump administration’s swift action on coal development Tuesday.

“Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Burgum, we are unleashing the power of American-made energy right here in Montana,” Gianforte said. “With today’s decision, we are protecting good-paying jobs and securing more affordable and reliable energy.”

According to DOI, the approved modification enables recovery of approximately 33.75 million tons of coal from federal lands and marks the second-largest federal coal mine expansion approved since the beginning of the second Trump administration. The project will generate more than $9 million in annual royalties to the federal government.

The approval comes from the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and addresses concerns Montana lawmakers raised about the previous administration’s approach to coal policy. Coal extracted from Rosebud powers both the Colstrip and Rosebud power plants, which together can generate more than 1,500 megawatts of electricity — enough to power well over a million homes, according to DOI.

DOI Acting Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Adam Suess emphasized the administration’s shift toward domestic energy production.

“This administration is focused on unleashing American energy, creating good-paying jobs and restoring economic certainty for our communities,” Suess said. “By responsibly developing our domestic coal resources, we’re reducing reliance on foreign energy, strengthening national security and powering America’s future.”

The mining plan modification aligns with President Trump’s executive orders on increasing American mineral production and reinvigorating the coal industry. The expansion represents a dramatic policy reversal from the Biden administration, which had implemented what Montana officials characterized as restrictive regulations on coal development. According to the governor’s office, Environmental Protection Agency rules issued under the previous administration were projected to cost Montana consumers $1.1 billion over the next 20 years.

Last year, Gianforte and Senator Steve Daines held a roundtable at the Rosebud Mine calling on then-President Joe Biden to end what they termed his “war on American-made energy.” That advocacy effort culminated in July’s congressional resolution seeking to nullify the BLM’s coal leasing restrictions.

The Rosebud Mine expansion provides the long-term economic certainty Montana lawmakers sought for workers and communities dependent on coal production in southeastern Montana.

“I thank President Trump and Secretary Burgum for their swift actions to expand coal production and support this critical industry,” Gianforte said.