🔗 Share this article

Per a recent review, numerous of individuals having backgrounds in the fossil fuel field have been placed within the existing government, comprising over 40 who previously served straight for oil firms.

Context of the Study

The study investigated the backgrounds of appointees and officials serving in the administration and several government agencies handling energy policy. These encompass important bodies including the environmental agency, the Department of the Interior, and the Energy Department.

Broader Regulatory Environment

This review surfaces amid ongoing initiatives to roll back environmental policies and renewable energy incentives. For instance, new acts have released extensive sections of government land for extraction and eliminated funding for renewable power.

With the barrage of bad things that have transpired on the environment arena... it’s important to inform the public that these are not just steps from the vague, ginormous thing that is the government broadly, commented one author participating in the analysis. They are commonly specific actors coming from particular powerful interests that are carrying out this disastrous deregulatory plan.

Key Discoveries

Analysts found 111 staff whom they considered as fossil fuel insiders and renewable energy opponents. That includes 43 people who were directly employed by oil companies. Among them are prominent top officials including the top energy official, who earlier acted as CEO of a hydraulic fracturing firm.

The list also includes lower-profile administration staff. For instance, the office responsible for energy efficiency is led by a former oil executive. In the same vein, a top policy counsel in the executive office has held high-ranking roles at large oil corporations.

Other Links

Another 12 officials were found to have ties to energy-financed conservative policy organizations. Those encompass ex- staff and associates of entities that have vigorously opposed clean power and championed the expansion of traditional energy.

A total of 29 other officials are ex- industry leaders from heavy industry sectors whose operations are intimately tied to oil and gas. Additional officials have relationships with utility companies that market traditional energy or government leaders who have supported pro-gas policies.

Agency Concentration

Analysts identified that 32 personnel at the interior agency by themselves have links to extractive sectors, making it the highest affected national body. This includes the leader of the department, who has consistently taken energy support and acted as a conduit between oil and gas business supporters and the campaign.

Campaign Funding

Oil and gas donors provided sizable money to the presidential effort and ceremony. Since entering the White House, the administration has not only enacted industry-friendly regulations but also designed incentives and exemptions that favor the sector.

Experience Issues

Besides oil-tied candidates, the analysts found several White House leaders who were nominated to key roles with minimal or no relevant experience.

Those individuals may not be connected to fossil fuels so closely, but their lack of expertise is dangerous, remarked one co-author. It’s logical to think they will be easily influenced, or vulnerable targets, for the oil industry’s agenda.

For instance, the candidate to lead the EPA’s department of general counsel has limited court history, having not once handled a case to completion, not conducted a sworn statement, and nor argued a legal request.

During a separate example, a White House aide working on regulatory issues came to the position after being employed in roles disconnected to the industry, with no apparent specific field or regulatory experience.

White House Statement

One representative for the White House dismissed the analysis, stating that the leadership’s personnel are highly capable to execute on the people’s directive to boost American fuel development.

Historical and Current Backdrop

The administration implemented a massive series of deregulatory actions during its initial term. During its second period, prepared with conservative blueprints, it has initiated a much wider and more aggressive crackdown on climate rules and alternative sources.

There is no embarrassment, said one expert. The administration is willing and willing to go out there and tout the fact that they are doing assistance for the oil and gas industry, extractive field, the mining industry.