Mine Safety Review Commissioner Cut Alongside Pittsburgh Staff

The independent agency that hears appeals to mine safety disputes removed one of its commissioners and at least a dozen staffers, a significant loss of personnel for the commission, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission closed its Pittsburgh, Pa. office Monday and fired commissioner Moshe Z. Marvit, a Biden-appointee. FMSHRC also fired staff working in that office.

The decision appears to have been driven, at least in part, by political considerations, aligning with broader efforts by the Trump administration to expand executive influence over traditionally independent federal agencies, one person said.

The Supreme Court has signaled that it’s poised to give President Donald Trump control over potentially dozens of traditionally independent federal agencies like FMSHRC in Trump v. Slaughter, casting doubt on a 90-year-old precedent.

The commission has a budget to support 55 full-time staff members, according to budget documents. Losing staff has the potential to slow its appeals process, creating more uncertainty for mine operators seeking deliberate and efficient rulings on safety disputes.

The panel now has three commissioners: Mary Lu Jordan, Timothy J. Baker, and chair Marco M. Rajkovich. Marvit’s term was set to expire in 2028.

FMSHRC operates like a specialized court system with two main layers: judges and an appeals panel. A dispute starts with an administrative law judge and a party can appeal a decision to the commissioners, who review the case and issue a final agency decision.

The commission is usually led by five commissioners, with one of them designated as the chair. They are nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate and serve 6-year staggering terms. No more than three commissioners can be from the same political party.

Baker and Jordan are also Biden appointees. Both of their terms expire this year. Rajkovich is a Trump appointee, confirmed to his post late last year.

FMSHRC didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.