The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted Wednesday to advance four of President Donald Trump’s energy and environment nominees.
Senators voted mainly along party lines on Jonathan Brightbill to be the Department of Energy’s general counsel, Tina Pierce to be DOE’s chief financial officer, Conner Prochaska to direct the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and Ned Mamula to lead the U.S. Geological Survey.
The panel held a hearing with the nominees last week, in which senators grilled them about Trump’s proposed budget cuts, among other priorities.
Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) said the picks would help the United States compete on the world stage. “Our adversaries are building. They’re hoarding critical resources and weaponizing energy policy,” he said.
