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Based on a new review, scores of personnel with backgrounds in the fossil fuel sector have been placed within the current leadership, featuring over 40 who formerly worked directly for oil firms.

Context of the Report

This study examined the profiles of nominees and personnel serving in the administration and eight national departments overseeing environmental regulation. Those include important entities like the environmental agency, the Interior Department, and the Energy Department.

Wider Regulatory Climate

The review surfaces during continuing actions to roll back energy rules and renewable energy incentives. For example, recent acts have opened vast sections of public land for extraction and eliminated backing for sustainable sources.

Amid the firehose of negative actions that have occurred on the ecological side... it’s important to remind the people that these aren’t just actions from the nebulous, massive thing that is the government broadly, stated one researcher involved in the analysis. They are frequently specific individuals originating from certain moneyed groups that are implementing this damaging pro-industry program.

Significant Discoveries

Researchers discovered 111 staff whom they deemed as fossil fuel insiders and alternative energy adversaries. That covers 43 people who were directly working by gas companies. Included in them are well-known leading executives including the head of energy, who formerly acted as CEO of a hydraulic fracturing corporation.

The roster additionally contains lesser-known government personnel. As an illustration, the office handling renewable energy is led by a previous oil leader. Similarly, a high-level energy advisor in the executive office has served in top-level roles at large energy companies.

Other Links

Another 12 officials have ties to fossil fuel-funded rightwing research groups. These cover previous staff and associates of entities that have strongly fought alternative sources and promoted the use of conventional sources.

Moreover 29 other staff are previous industry leaders from manufacturing industries whose business interests are closely connected to fossil fuels. Additional personnel have associations with utility providers that distribute traditional energy or elected leaders who have pushed pro-coal policies.

Agency Focus

Investigators discovered that 32 staff at the interior agency alone have ties to extractive sectors, making it the most heavily compromised federal agency. This includes the secretary of the department, who has consistently taken energy support and served as a bridge between fossil fuel business donors and the government.

Campaign Contributions

Energy contributors provided substantial funds to the campaign effort and ceremony. Since entering the White House, the administration has not only implemented pro-fossil fuel regulations but also crafted benefits and exceptions that advantage the sector.

Qualifications Concerns

In addition to oil-tied appointees, the researchers found a number of government higher-ups who were nominated to key jobs with little or no pertinent knowledge.

Those officials may not be linked to fossil fuels so closely, but their inexperience is concerning, stated one analyst. It’s reasonable to think they will be compliant, or easy marks, for the energy sector’s plans.

For instance, the candidate to lead the Environmental Protection Agency’s division of legal affairs has minimal court history, having not ever handled a legal matter to resolution, nor taken a deposition, and never argued a motion.

In an additional case, a administration assistant focusing on energy policy came to the position after serving in jobs unrelated to the sector, with no obvious direct sector or administrative expertise.

White House Response

One representative for the administration criticized the report, commenting that the leadership’s officials are extremely qualified to implement on the public’s instruction to expand national fuel development.

Historical and Current Context

This leadership enacted a substantial series of deregulatory steps during its previous tenure. In its second tenure, backed with rightwing agendas, it has initiated a far more extensive and more aggressive dismantling on climate regulations and alternative sources.

There’s no hesitation, said one analyst. Officials are proud and ready to go out there and promote the fact that they are doing benefits for the oil and gas business, extractive industry, the energy sector.