Senate committees approved President Donald Trump's nominees to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior and Energy departments in votes Thursday.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 18-2 in support of Doug Burgum, Trump’s nominee for interior secretary, and 15-5 for Chris Wright, who has been picked for energy secretary. Trump’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, secured 11-8 approval from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
Burgum, currently the governor of North Dakota, appeared before the committee in a hearing last Thursday, where he pledged to ensure federal land use would be balanced among multiple types of industries. He also pledged to work toward consensus on Colorado River water reductions.
Following the vote, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she was impressed by Burgum’s relationships with North Dakota’s tribes. The Interior Department includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which is the primary federal agency that oversees tribal relations.
“The fact that the tribes in North Dakota have all come together in support of his nomination, I think is actually quite remarkable, particularly considering some of the very contentious issues that they have faced in his state over the years,” Murkowski said.
The two “no” votes on Burgum’s nomination were Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii.
Zeldin, a former congressman from New York, also appeared for a confirmation hearing last week. A critic of the Renewable Fuel Standard while in Congress, Zeldin pledged to work with EPW members on biofuels issues and follow EPA’s “obligations under the law.” He also said EPA would comply with the Supreme Court’s Sackett decision limiting the federal government’s jurisdiction over wetlands.
Before the vote, Environment and Public Works Chair Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she believes Zeldin is “well qualified for the position” and applauded his efforts to speak with committee members prior to his confirmation hearing. “Congressman Zeldin has shown that he understands the importance of striking the right balance to improve the lives of Americans across the country and to protect the environment, while also uplifting communities and cities across the nation,” she said.
The committee’s ranking member, Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., expressed concern about “having the independence to lead the agency in a manner that will protect us from” climate change risks, adding “he doesn’t even seem to know they exist."
Sen. Mark Kelly was the only Democrat who voted in support of Zeldin’s nomination.
Chris Wright, Trump’s pick for energy secretary, is currently the CEO of Liberty Energy. While he has been criticized in the past for comments casting doubt on climate change, he acknowledged during his confirmation hearing that “climate change is a global challenge that we need to solve. He also said, however, that he believes “energy is critical to human lives” and that "tradeoffs between those two are the decisions that politicians make and the decisions that will impact the future of our world and our quality of life."
In a hearing last week, Wright promised to “unleash American energy” by expanding production.
While he has been criticized in the past for comments casting doubt on climate change, Wright acknowledged during his confirmation hearing that “climate change is a global challenge that we need to solve." He also said, however, that he believes “energy is critical to human lives” and that "tradeoffs between those two are the decisions that politicians make and the decisions that will impact the future of our world and our quality of life.”
Wyden and Hirono both voted “no” on Wright, as did Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif.
The nominations now advance to the Senate floor. Before each nominee can take office, they must win a simple majority vote in the chamber.
