A new watchdog report says the Trump administration has stocked key energy and environmental agencies with fossil fuel insiders—43 of them, to be exact. (Inside Climate News)
Who’s who: Among the names—which run the gamut from lobbyists to public leaders—are Energy Secretary Chris Wright (a former fracking CEO) and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum (who made his fortune in oil and gas).
What it means: Public Citizen and the Revolving Door Project say the hires blur the line between regulator and regulated. Many are now overseeing policies that benefit their old employers—from slower methane crackdowns to expanded federal land leases.
The defense: A White House spokesperson brushed off criticism, saying President Trump was elected to “drill, baby, drill,” so picking people who know the industry is “totally logical.”