Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce hammered top Trump energy officials at a Wednesday hearing that provided a rare opportunity for lawmakers to get direct answers from agency top brass over controversial staffing and funding freeze decisions.
The Energy Subcommittee hearing, which was intended as a discussion forum for 14 energy reliability and permitting reform bills, instead became a venue for Democrats to use Department of Energy acting undersecretary for energy Michael Goff as a punching bag.
He was forced to defend across-the-board DOE staff cuts that could result in more than 3,200 workers leaving the agency, and even controversial moves outside of DOE’s purview like the recent forced departure of former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chair Willie Phillips.
“I think I’m making [Goff] uncomfortable here with these questions, but I’m going to try again,” said full committee ranking member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.). “Do you think that the President should be able to fire commissioners, for example, from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, at will?”
