Gov. Greg Gianforte praised President Donald J. Trump this week for signing two congressional joint resolutions that overturn a Biden administration rule he said threatened Montana’s coal industry and billions in funding for public education.
The resolutions — Senate Joint Resolution 61, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and House Joint Resolution 104, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont. — repeal a Bureau of Land Management amendment to the Miles City Field Office Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) finalized under the Biden administration.
According to the governor’s office, the amendment would have removed more than 338 million tons of federal coal in Montana from future leasing consideration and effectively isolated all state trust land coal reserves. State officials estimate the change would have resulted in the loss of more than $4 billion in future revenue for state trust land beneficiaries, including Montana’s K-12 public schools.
“I’m grateful for the strong leadership of President Trump and Montana’s federal delegation to defend coal-based power and strengthen our nation’s energy security,” Gianforte said in a statement. “The president’s actions ensure Montana’s public schools will not suffer a $4 billion cut while prioritizing reliable, affordable power.”
Gianforte has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration’s energy policies, arguing they amounted to a sustained effort to undermine domestic fossil fuel production. In July, he called on Congress to reverse the RMPA, describing it as part of “a four-year attack on tradition, made-in-America energy” and an attempt to “weaponize government against fossil fuels like coal.”
Earlier this year, Gianforte joined President Trump at the White House for the signing of executive orders aimed at expanding American energy production, including measures the administration says support Montana’s coal industry.
The governor said the repeal aligns with Montana’s long-standing “all-of-the-above” energy strategy.
“I want to thank President Trump, Sen. Daines, Rep. Downing, and Montana’s entire congressional delegation for advocating for our ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy and ensuring the future prosperity of our schools and public institutions,” Gianforte said.