🔗 Share this article

Per a new review, numerous of people with backgrounds in the energy industry have been positioned within the present administration, comprising above 40 who previously worked personally for coal companies.

Overview of the Study

This study examined the profiles of appointees and officials serving in the White House and multiple federal departments handling energy matters. Those include major organizations including the environmental agency, the Department of the Interior, and the Energy Department.

Wider Administrative Context

This report comes amid continuing initiatives to dismantle environmental regulations and renewable energy programs. For example, new bills have opened large sections of government territory for extraction and eliminated support for renewable power.

With the barrage of bad actions that have happened on the environment arena... it’s vital to remind the people that these aren’t just steps from the vague, ginormous thing that is the administration writ large, commented one author involved in the analysis. They are often individual actors originating from certain wealthy groups that are carrying out this damaging pro-industry agenda.

Significant Findings

Analysts identified 111 employees whom they considered as fossil fuel insiders and clean energy critics. This covers 43 individuals who were previously employed by gas firms. Among them are high-profile senior leaders including the head of energy, who previously acted as CEO of a hydraulic fracturing firm.

The group furthermore features lower-profile administration staff. For example, the division responsible for renewable energy is managed by a previous fracking executive. In the same vein, a high-level regulatory counsel in the White House has held high-ranking jobs at prominent oil corporations.

Additional Ties

An additional 12 appointees have ties to energy-financed libertarian policy organizations. Those encompass previous employees and associates of entities that have vigorously opposed alternative sources and championed the continuation of traditional energy.

Moreover 29 additional appointees are previous industry executives from manufacturing industries whose operations are closely tied to energy resources. Further individuals have associations with energy providers that market fossil fuels or elected leaders who have advocated pro-coal initiatives.

Departmental Concentration

Analysts discovered that 32 staff at the interior agency by themselves have connections to polluting sectors, establishing it as the highest affected government body. That includes the head of the agency, who has long accepted oil funding and served as a bridge between fossil fuel sector donors and the campaign.

Campaign Finance

Oil and gas donors donated substantial money to the presidential operation and inauguration. After entering the White House, the leadership has not only enacted energy-sector rules but also crafted tax breaks and exceptions that favor the field.

Experience Issues

Besides industry-linked candidates, the researchers identified several government higher-ups who were selected to influential positions with minimal or no relevant experience.

Those officials may not be tied to oil and gas so closely, but their inexperience is dangerous, said a analyst. It is reasonable to think they will be pushovers, or vulnerable targets, for the fossil fuel agenda.

For instance, the nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency’s office of general counsel has minimal court history, having never handled a case to verdict, not conducted a sworn statement, and never presented a court petition.

During another instance, a White House aide focusing on regulatory issues came to the job after serving in jobs separate to the sector, with no obvious direct sector or administrative background.

Administration Response

A official for the executive branch criticized the analysis, stating that the leadership’s personnel are highly qualified to deliver on the people’s instruction to expand American resource production.

Previous and Current Backdrop

The administration oversaw a substantial array of anti-environmental steps during its previous term. In its present period, equipped with pro-business agendas, it has overseen a considerably broader and stricter crackdown on environmental rules and alternative sources.

There’s no shame, stated a analyst. They are willing and willing to go out there and tout the fact that they are performing benefits for the fossil fuel industry, resource sector, the mining industry.