President Donald Trump has an opening to affix a Republican majority at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission after the departure of Democratic commissioner Willie Phillips.
Phillips told POLITICO on Tuesday that he resigned his position after the White House asked him to step down. That leaves the commission with an even two-two split along party lines — with Trump now free to appoint the fifth commissioner. The most senior Democrat, Phillips’ term was set to expire in June 2026.
In agreeing to resign, Phillips diverged from some Democratic members of other independent agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and National Labor Relations Board. Trump claimed to fire Democratic members of those agencies despite statutory protections preventing their removal except under certain circumstances, and several members are suing to be reinstated.
The FERC sphere received the news with a mix of surprise, sorrow and disappointment as it awaits news of who Trump will tap to replace Phillips. At stake is the agency’s reputation for consensus decision-making — something experts said has been especially apparent in the past few months.
