America's Mining Industry: A Makeover or a Misstep? The $180 million grant package announced by President Trump last week has been hailed as a much needed boost to the US mining industry.
However, beneath the surface lies a more complex reality that warrants closer examination. One of the most striking aspects of this initiative is its emphasis on reversing a long standing decline in mining students.
The number of students enrolled in mining engineering programs has plummeted to just over 600 nationwide, down from nearly 1,500 eight years ago.