Energy & Environment

Trump Cabinet members attended mining lobby meeting at Trump hotel: report

Three members of President’s Trump Cabinet attended the National Mining Association’s board of directors meeting at the Trump International Hotel in Washington this week. 

The Washington Post reported that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta made appearances at the annual meeting held just blocks from the White House.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke was initially set to attend, but was unable to due to travel, the Post reported.

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At the meeting, Ross spoke at a general session, Acosta joined association members for lunch and Perry spoke at a breakfast — an address he posted about on Twitter.

Luke Popovich, a spokesman for the National Mining Association, told the Post that Obama administration officials, such as former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson and former Energy Secretary Steven Chu, have made appearances at the group’s meetings in the past.

The meeting comes amid efforts by the Trump administration to roll back dozens of regulations. The real estate mogul-turned-president vowed on the campaign trail to lift restrictions on mining.