In the second Trump administration, officials who previously served under the president-elect could take the helm of energy and environmental agencies.
Several former Trump officials are potential candidates for the job, including two who are believed to have supported President-elect Trump during his campaign. Former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler appeared to give Trump talking points in a debate with President Biden, and former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt spoke over the summer about the Trump campaign's energy policy. answered reporters' questions.
Meanwhile, President Trump's second energy secretary, Dan Brouillette, recently resigned from his position in the utility lobby.
However, they are not the only top candidates. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (Republican) is also thought to be likely to play a key role in the energy sector in his administration.
Here, we take a closer look at these four and others who may be in charge of the country's energy policy in the future.
andrew wheeler
Wheeler took the reins at the EPA after his predecessor, Scott Pruitt, resigned in 2018 amid an ethics scandal until Trump left office in 2021.
In that role, Mr. Wheeler led the rollback of key environmental protections, including relaxing climate standards for power plants and automobiles and loosening water pollution regulations.
Before joining EPA, Mr. Wheeler was an attorney and lobbyist for companies including coal company Murray Energy. After leaving the agency, Mr. Wheeler went to work for the Virginia state government in a newly formed office focused on deregulation, and then joined the law firm Holland & Hart.
He appears to remain in Trump's orbit, with posts on Trump's Truth social account showing Wheeler briefing the then-candidate on talking points ahead of the debate with President Biden. has been done.
Trump's former EPA spokesperson Jahan Wilcox said in an email that he believes Wheeler is qualified for the position.
“Andrew Wheeler would be an excellent EPA administrator,” Wilcox said, noting that he carried out Donald Trump's environmental policies and brought no problems or drama to the agency. Ta.
david barnhart
Bernhardt led the Interior Department during the Trump administration after Ryan Zinke resigned in 2018 following a series of scandals.
During his tenure, the department expanded opportunities for oil and gas drilling on public lands.
He is a former oil lobbyist.List of his potential conflicts of interest.
After the end of the Trump administration, he returned to the law firm and lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. He also participates in the America First Policy Institute, a think tank made up of former President Trump staffers. Group website as chairman of the American Freedom Center;
He also appears to remain part of the Trump world, participating in press conferences for the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee on energy policy over the summer.
Dan Brouillette
Brouillette led the Energy Department under the Trump administration after his predecessor, Rick Perry, resigned in 2019.
Mr. Brouillette previously worked for financial services companies USAA, Ford Motor Co., and in the administration of former President George W. Bush.
After leaving office, Trump joined the Edison Electric Association, a lobby group representing power companies, in 2023.
he Announced at the end of last month He had planned to leave his post this year to spend time “engaging directly with global business and policy leaders.”
Former Vice President Mark Menezes told The Hill on Thursday that Brouillette is “certainly well-qualified to serve in any capacity” in the Trump administration, including as director and adviser. .
Menezes said Brouillette “brings a lot of skill sets to the administration,” including in the private sector and international affairs.
Another former energy official said Mr. Brouillette could take on a variety of roles in the next administration, including work in national security and intelligence, as well as the Energy Department.
Doug Burgum
Burgum, a former North Dakota governor, was considered a front-runner for Trump's vice president until Trump ultimately chose Vance as vice president-elect.
He is now seen as likely to play an energy role in the incoming Trump administration. After Burgum was not selected as President Trump's running mate, he told CNN that the former president called him “Mr. Trump.” Secretary. “
“Over a year ago, Donald Trump asked me if I thought Doug Burgum would be a good energy secretary,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (RN.D.) told The Hill in July.
Kramer said at the time that he believed Burkum should be an overarching energy czar who would coordinate all aspects of the government's energy policy.
north dakotais a major oil producer and a large gas and coal production base, and its electricity is produced primarily by coal and wind. Mr. Burgum, who holds the real power of the country, said this.We hope to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.— not by reducing the use of fossil fuels, but by capturing and storing their carbon emissions.
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Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) is also a possible candidate for a role in the administration. Reuters and of new york post In the days after the election, it was reported that Dunleavy was being considered for a position at the Interior Department, and the Post reported that he could be considered to head the Department of Energy. Industry sources told The Hill they had heard that Dunleavy's name had been considered for the role.
A spokesperson for Governor Dunleavy said in an email: “Governor Dunleavy will continue to serve as the Governor of Alaska. We will notify you of any changes.”
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.)told E&E NewsIn June, he interviewed twice for the top position at the Interior Department during President Trump's first term, but said he had no intention of pursuing the post this time.
A spokesperson for the senator did not directly respond to a question about whether Lummis would join the second Trump administration.
“Senator Lummis is a longtime leader on public lands issues, currently chairs the Senate Western Caucus, and has spent the past four years fighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s aggressive regulations. “We look forward to working with President Trump to serve our people and reverse these terrible public lands policies that have harmed the West,” spokeswoman Stacey Daniels said in an email.
Menezes, who previously served as deputy energy secretary, did not rule out the possibility when asked if he would like to return to the Department of Energy. He said his current role at the helm of the nonprofit American Energy Association is “very fulfilling,” but added, “We'll see what happens.”
Zach Budrick also contributed.
