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Based on a new analysis, dozens of personnel with histories in the energy field have been positioned within the current leadership, including over 40 who earlier served personally for oil corporations.

Background of the Analysis

This analysis examined the histories of candidates and officials serving in the administration and eight federal agencies responsible for environmental policy. Those encompass major bodies including the environmental agency, the Interior Department, and the Energy Department.

Larger Policy Environment

This analysis surfaces amid ongoing efforts to dismantle environmental regulations and alternative energy programs. For instance, latest bills have released vast areas of government property for extraction and reduced support for sustainable power.

With the flood of terrible things that have transpired on the ecological front... it’s important to remind the people that these are not just actions from the nebulous, huge thing that is the administration broadly, commented one analyst involved in the study. It is often individual players coming from specific powerful groups that are implementing this damaging pro-industry agenda.

Major Discoveries

Researchers identified 111 personnel whom they deemed as fossil fuel insiders and renewable energy opponents. That includes 43 officials who were personally employed by gas companies. Among them are high-profile senior leaders such as the energy secretary, who previously worked as chief executive of a fracking company.

This list also contains lower-profile government members. For example, the division handling clean technology is led by a previous gas manager. In the same vein, a high-level policy consultant in the administration has served in senior positions at major oil companies.

Further Connections

Another 12 personnel were found to have ties to fossil fuel-funded libertarian research groups. Those encompass previous staff and fellows of entities that have actively opposed alternative sources and championed the expansion of conventional sources.

Moreover 29 additional staff are former industry managers from heavy industry sectors whose business interests are directly connected to fossil fuels. Additional personnel have relationships with power firms that distribute conventional power or government leaders who have pushed pro-coal initiatives.

Agency Concentration

Analysts found that 32 personnel at the Interior Department by themselves have ties to extractive energy, establishing it as the most influenced government body. This features the leader of the office, who has repeatedly taken energy donations and functioned as a bridge between fossil fuel industry donors and the administration.

Political Contributions

Energy supporters donated sizable money to the presidential initiative and ceremony. Since taking office, the administration has not only enacted energy-sector rules but also crafted incentives and exceptions that benefit the industry.

Qualifications Concerns

Besides industry-linked candidates, the researchers noted several administration officials who were selected to key positions with scant or no pertinent experience.

Those individuals may not be connected to oil and gas so closely, but their inexperience is concerning, stated one analyst. It is reasonable to think they will be compliant, or vulnerable targets, for the fossil fuel agenda.

For example, the candidate to lead the Environmental Protection Agency’s department of legal affairs has very little legal background, having never handled a lawsuit to completion, nor taken a deposition, and nor presented a motion.

During an additional example, a executive assistant working on regulatory issues came to the position after serving in roles unrelated to energy, with no obvious relevant energy industry or regulatory background.

White House Reaction

A official for the administration dismissed the report, commenting that the leadership’s personnel are exceptionally qualified to deliver on the voters’ instruction to expand domestic energy output.

Historical and Current Context

This leadership enacted a massive number of anti-environmental actions during its previous period. In its second period, backed with pro-business blueprints, it has initiated a much wider and harsher dismantling on climate policies and renewable energy.

There’s no shame, stated a expert. The administration is proud and ready to go out there and publicize the fact that they are performing favors for the fossil fuel sector, resource field, the mining business.