ICYMI: Daines Op-Ed in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle: “Thanks to President Trump, We’re Protecting Montana’s Mines”

• March 10, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Steve Daines penned an op-ed in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle about the Trump administration's actions to protect Montana mining. Read it below.

Sen. Steve Daines: Thanks to President Trump, we're protecting Montana's mines

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

March 6^th, 2026

Montana's mining industry is critically important to not only our state but the country. Hard rock mining for critical minerals like copper, platinum, palladium, and silver provides more than 18,000 good-paying jobs for Montanans, adds nearly $430 million to the state's economy, and provides an essential tax base for our local communities.

In addition, Montana's coal mines employ nearly 1,000 with a combined payroll of $100 million and provide $200 million in state and local taxes and royalties to Montana's communities.

For four years, however, Joe Biden's administration waged a relentless war on Montana's miners, threatening their livelihood and with it, the fabric of their communities.

His administration didn't care whether it was coal at Bull Mountains or palladium at Stillwater. Every action his administration took over four years related to mining was hostile and designed to put Montana's mines out of business, all because he refused to side with Montana and stand up to those who attacked us.

When it came to coal, the Biden administration adopted the agenda of radical left-wing environmentalists and his BLM and EPA used it as the basis for every rule and regulation it issued. As a result, the Biden administration will likely go down as the most anti-coal and anti-Montana administration in history.

Thankfully, President Trump had enough.

In July, I stood next to President Trump as he signed my bill to keep the Bull Mountains Mine open. Together we saved nearly 400 coal mining jobs and preserved the local economy while we were at it.

When it comes to Stillwater, President Biden refused to stand up to Russia. The only primary producer of platinum and palladium in the United States is Stillwater and these metals are vitally important to our economy, particularly the defense industry and its use in catalytic converters and other important electronic and medical devices.

Russia and South Africa are the other major palladium producers in the world. Its scarcity means that a country that mines its own palladium can leverage its availability on global supply chains to its own advantage.

This is what Russia did to the United States when Joe Biden was president.

In 2022, Russia began flooding the global market with palladium and sent prices tumbling. It was an attempt to create a monopoly for Russia and put competitors, including Stillwater, out of business. Biden did nothing, and Stillwater tragically had to lay off nearly 700 miners. Moreover, America was forced to rely on Russian palladium to power our own nation's technology.

I fought these actions by Russia from day one. I urged the Biden administration to fight back both diplomatically as well as by using the force of the U.S. economy. My pleas fell on deaf ears.

Not so with President Trump. I worked with the administration to find a way to protect our miners and just a few weeks ago, the administration slapped Russia with a 133% anti-dumping duty, which will slow the onslaught of Russian palladium on the market. This makes U.S. palladium more competitive in the global marketplace and protects jobs at Stillwater.

This is what putting Montana and America first looks like. Many presidents talk about it. President Trump actually does it.

President Trump recognizes the importance of mining for Montana's resource economy and job market, as well as for our nation's national security. No longer does America bow to the demands of hostile nations who don't have our best interests at heart. Now, Montana mining jobs are protected and Stillwater, Bull Mountains, and all our coal and hard rock mines can continue operations.

I visited the Stillwater Mine on Feb. 21. I met with the miners there, who told me about how President Trump's action helped protect their livelihoods. I saw firsthand the impact of Biden's layoffs and I'm grateful that President Trump took decisive steps to support these mines and the communities they support.

Continued operations at Bull Mountains and Stillwater means more Montana jobs, more Montana revenue, and more Made-In-Montana resources. I will always fight to protect Montana's mining industry and keep our state the Last Best Place.

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