Nominees for the Department of Energy and the U.S. Geological Survey attempted to assuage senators Wednesday who demanded to know how the picks would lead those agencies amid proposed spending and staffing cuts.
The Energy and Natural Resources Committee also advanced for floor consideration other nominees for DOE and the Interior Department.
While committee Republicans seemed content with what they heard from the nominees at the confirmation hearing, Democrats were incredulous with some of the responses.
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who caucuses with Democrats, confronted Conner Prochaska, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, over proposed budget cuts there. ARPA-E funds and directs energy research and development.
