Report Finds Over 40 Trump Administration Officials Have Direct Ties to Gas Sector
Based on a new examination, numerous of personnel having histories in the fossil fuel field have been appointed within the present leadership, comprising over 40 who previously been employed straight for coal companies.
Background of the Report
The report analyzed the backgrounds of candidates and personnel positioned in the administration and eight federal offices handling environmental regulation. These encompass key organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency, the interior agency, and the Department of Energy.
Wider Administrative Climate
This review comes while continuing initiatives to roll back environmental policies and alternative energy supports. As an example, new legislation have released extensive sections of federal property for extraction and eliminated funding for clean energy.
Amid the firehose of negative developments that have occurred on the environment arena... it’s vital to educate the citizens that these are not just steps from the amorphous, ginormous thing that is the government writ large, said one analyst participating in the study. They are often individual individuals coming from specific moneyed interests that are executing this disastrous anti-regulatory program.
Significant Findings
Authors identified 111 employees whom they deemed as industry insiders and clean energy critics. This includes 43 officials who were personally working by oil firms. Included in them are prominent senior executives like the top energy official, who formerly acted as top executive of a fracking company.
This roster furthermore contains lesser-known White House members. As an illustration, the department overseeing renewable energy is led by a previous oil executive. Likewise, a top policy advisor in the executive office has served in senior positions at large oil companies.
Additional Links
An additional 12 officials were found to have connections to energy-financed conservative research groups. Those cover previous staff and researchers of entities that have actively resisted renewable energy and advocated the expansion of fossil fuels.
Moreover 29 other appointees are former business managers from heavy industry industries whose operations are intimately tied to oil and gas. Additional officials have associations with energy firms that distribute traditional energy or government leaders who have advocated pro-gas policies.
Departmental Concentration
Researchers found that 32 personnel at the Interior Department alone have connections to extractive energy, establishing it as the highest affected national agency. That includes the leader of the department, who has repeatedly received energy support and functioned as a link between energy industry contributors and the government.
Political Finance
Oil and gas contributors donated sizable money to the election initiative and ceremony. After taking office, the leadership has not only implemented energy-sector rules but also created incentives and exceptions that advantage the industry.
Experience Issues
Besides energy-connected candidates, the analysts noted a number of White House leaders who were selected to influential positions with scant or no relevant experience.
These individuals may not be connected to the energy sector so explicitly, but their lack of expertise is problematic, said one researcher. It’s reasonable to think they will be pushovers, or easy marks, for the energy sector’s plans.
For example, the appointee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency’s department of legal affairs has very little litigation background, having never tried a case to verdict, not conducted a testimony, and not argued a legal request.
During a separate example, a executive aide working on energy matters arrived to the position after being employed in roles disconnected to energy, with no obvious relevant field or regulatory experience.
White House Reaction
A spokesperson for the executive branch criticized the analysis, commenting that the government’s appointees are exceptionally qualified to implement on the people’s mandate to increase national fuel production.
Previous and Present Backdrop
This leadership oversaw a significant series of pro-industry measures during its first period. In its current tenure, equipped with conservative blueprints, it has spearheaded a considerably wider and harsher crackdown on ecological regulations and clean power.
There is no shame, said a analyst. They are willing and prepared to go out there and publicize the fact that they are executing assistance for the fossil fuel business, extractive field, the coal business.