‘Do you have to be dead?’: US coalminers plead for benefits as black-lung disease cases surge

The Guardian Environment Sunday 20 September 2026, 11:00 UTC By Michael Sainato 1 min read

Key Points

Trump says he digs coal – but pneumoconiosis cases are at a 50-year high, and sick miners are mired in benefit delaysFor 38 years, Josh Armes worked as a coal miner in West Virginia and Virginia. After retirement, Armes, 74, of Grundy, Virginia, was diagnosed with black lung disease, medically known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), caused by breathing in coal dust over long periods, which irreversibly damages the lungs.

Trump says he digs coal – but pneumoconiosis cases are at a 50-year high, and sick miners are mired in benefit delays

For 38 years, Josh Armes worked as a coal miner in West Virginia and Virginia.

After retirement, Armes, 74, of Grundy, Virginia, was diagnosed with black lung disease, medically known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP), caused by breathing in coal dust over long periods, which irreversibly damages the lungs.

US (LOCATION) Trump (ORG) Josh Armes (PERSON) West Virginia (LOCATION) Virginia (LOCATION) Armes (ORG) Grundy (LOCATION)

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