The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday approved two of President Donald Trump’s nominees to serve in top roles at the Department of Energy and advanced legislation that would open copper projects to more funding and streamlined permitting.
The panel voted 14-6 on Wells Griffith to serve as undersecretary for energy, drawing support from ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Angus King (I-Maine). The committee also voted 15-5 to approve Dario Gil to become undersecretary for science.
Heinrich blasted the administration for unleashing “chaos” on agencies through workforce reductions, funding freezes and reports of project “hit lists.”
But Heinrich said Griffith and Dario are ultimately qualified and vowed to hold them accountable for standing up for DOE programs and funding.
