Senate committees advance Trump’s energy, environment nominees

Friday, January 24, 2025

Doug Burgum, former North Dakota governor and Trump Interior secretary nominee. Gage Skidmore

President Donald Trump’s nominees for key environmental positions all passed through Senate committees on Thursday morning. The nominees will next go to the full Senate for consideration and are all expected to be confirmed. The Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 18-2 to advance Department of the Interior nominee Doug Burgum and 15-5 for Department of Energy pick Chris Wright. The Environment and Public Works Committee advanced EPA nominee Lee Zeldin in an 11-8 vote.

“Trump may say over and over again that he wants to beat China. I can say with absolute certainty that gutting clean energy tax credits is not the way to do that,” said Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, who voted against Burgum and Wright. “I cannot support these nominees who will carry out Trump’s policies that throw out America’s greatest advantages.”

Trump's first week back in office:

President Trump issued a barrage of day-one executive orders affecting the climate, energy, and public lands. This included declaring an energy “emergency,” opening more lands for drilling in Alaska, and pausing onshore and offshore wind energy projects.
The president also reversed many Biden-era climate and environment policies, including withdrawing the US from the Paris climate agreement.
The president announced his intention to rename Denali to “Mt. McKinley,” which was strongly opposed by Alaska political leaders.
Utah's Garfield County board of commissioners is considering naming a scenic road that runs through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument after Trump.

                            Quick hits
                        

Poll shows Utahns desire protection of national monuments with nation's transition of power

St. George News

Opinion: Our public lands are a legacy worth fighting for

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Federal lawmakers push to revive lapsed Colorado River conservation program

Denver Post | Colorado Sun

Trump admin questions Native Americans' birthright citizenship

Salon

Conservation won big under Biden. Environmentalists and Tribal leaders fear Trump will undo those gains

Inside Climate News

                            Quote of the day
                        

You hear a lot of talk about all-of-the-above energy, but what I think they really mean is all-of-the-fossil-energy, because renewables are clearly not included in this push to boost energy production.”

—Rachael Hamby, Center for Western Priorities Policy Director, WyoFile

                            Picture This

                        

@usinterior

Renowned for their brilliant sapphire feathers, male mountain bluebirds often hover gracefully over open fields in search of insects and berries. Watch for them perched atop treetops, basking in the warm sunlight—a sight that’s sure to brighten your day. 💙💙💙

Photo at @craterlakenps by Alicia Burtner