Letters to the Editor | April 13, 2025

Donald Trump signed an executive order to boost U.S. coal mining. He also closed the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program that tracked and monitored black lung disease. Those lucky workers will get to return to the mines, but will likely die young because Trump fired the health workers who would have treated them. Trump fired roughly 16,000 probationary federal workers. Those lucky employees don’t have to work but will remain on paid administrative leave while lawsuits move through the courts. Meanwhile, Trump bullied the IRS into providing names and addresses of migrants who are in the country without authorization so the U.S. Department of Homeland Security can more quickly find and deport these tax-paying immigrants. These three examples reveal that instead of saving money, Trump’s executive orders will cost money, hurt the health of coal workers, and leave vacant physical jobs most Americans won’t take due to low pay and back-breaking effort. Lucky us.

Wendy Peck, Wynnewood

As retired judges of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, we are deeply concerned by the unwarranted and unlawful attacks by officials of the current administration and by the president himself on federal judges and members of the legal profession. The Constitution established the judiciary as one of three coequal branches of our government. President Donald Trump and his associates are attempting to reduce the judiciary to mere subsidiary status. Our society has functioned for almost 250 years because of our collective commitment to honor the rule of law. These meritless attacks on the judiciary undermine the very fabric of our nation. The current administration’s failure to abide by court orders is a direct attack on our system of government and, if unchecked, is a grave threat to our democracy and our way of life. We are speaking out — and encouraging others to join us — to defend our democracy before it is too late.

Flora Barth Wolf, Mark Bernstein, Patricia McInerney, Renee Hughes, Joseph O’Keefe, Katherine Streeter Lewis, and Theresa Sarmina, retired, judges of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

The Crozer Health System is integral to providing health care to a significant population in Delaware County. Every two weeks or so, Prospect Medical, which runs this outfit, begs for money from the state, the county, and the Crozer Foundation to keep the doors open. It claims the system is bankrupt. Funds have been provided by the responsible parties to protect our residents.

What I don’t understand is how two members of Prospect removed about $400 million from the system, lining their pockets while the system suffered from neglect, and now they beg for more money? Why do the laws in this country allow this pilfering with no consequences? The laws in this country are crafted by wealthy members of Congress to protect the 1%. The sad result is that the needy and uninsured are the people who will suffer when there is a lack of care. Donald Trump (aided by Elon Musk) is further stripping laws that were in place to protect consumers. We need more members of Congress to take action to protect citizens from these thieves. We need more legislators like Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Bob Zigmont, Morton

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