Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, alongside other top Democrats in Congress with oversight over the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), sent a letter Tuesday to Energy Secretary Chris Wright pressing for information the Department has thus far failed to provide about its suspension of critical energy programs, cancellation of awards and contracts, mass reductions in force, and other detrimental actions.
In their letter, Heinrich, alongside U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee; Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, called on Secretary Wright to provide the transparency he promised but has so far failed to deliver about DOE’s policies and plans.
“We write to follow up on the serious concerns outlined in several recent letters we have sent regarding the Department of Energy’s suspension of critical energy programs, cancellation of executed awards and contracts, mass reductions in staffing, and changes to contracting policies,” the lawmakers wrote. “Collectively, these actions have created mass confusion and uncertainty that is putting critical projects and initiatives at risk, and contributing to rising energy costs for American families and businesses—not to mention stunting what should be a strong period of economic growth across the energy sector.”
The lawmakers underscored how the Department’s vast freeze of enacted funding “are causing severe uncertainty and economic risk for energy stakeholders and communities that depend on the continuity of these investments.”
They also noted that the unprecedented staff reduction the Department is undertaking will seriously impair its ability to carry out its statutory responsibilities, writing: “DOE’s ability to effectively execute its statutory mission depends on the presence of qualified, experienced personnel. A hollowed-out workforce cannot administer the complex portfolio of federal energy programs Congress has funded.”
Additionally, they wrote that DOE’s new, arbitrary 15% cap on indirect costs for university research grants will weaken U.S. competitiveness and choke off essential research and innovation. “Cutting off this support, especially without warning or input from stakeholders, severely impedes universities’ ability to carry out the scientific work that has been authorized by Congress and has produced critical breakthroughs we all benefit from,” the lawmakers state.
The committee leaders conclude by renewing their prior, repeated requests for essential information about the Department’s funding freeze, compliance with the law, ongoing reductions in force, and other actions and policies—requesting responses by May 18.
The full text of the letter is here.