WASHINGTON — At a recent U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, discussions heated up over the Trump administration’s budgetary plans for the Department of the Interior (DOI) for Fiscal Year 2027. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), serving as the Committee’s Ranking Member, expressed significant concerns to DOI Secretary Doug Burgum regarding reductions in staff and delays in clean energy initiatives.
Senator Heinrich highlighted potential roadblocks to bipartisan cooperation on permitting reform, emphasizing the need for the administration to advance clean energy projects efficiently.
Concerns Over DOI Staffing Reductions
Senator Heinrich opened the dialogue by questioning the rationale behind the DOI’s decision to cut nearly 20% of its staff, which he described as a “hollowing out” of the department. He elaborated on the challenges his constituents face, including unreturned communications and pending permits.
Secretary Burgum responded by denying any enforced layoffs, stating, “The only way people have left is with voluntary retirement programs.” Heinrich countered, citing personal accounts of employees feeling pushed out, to which Burgum acknowledged the sentiment but maintained the voluntary nature of departures.
Burgum explained that the early retirement programs aimed to address overstaffing in non-essential roles, like human resources, due to outdated IT systems and underfunding. He noted, “This is the last round of voluntary [resignations]… none of those are related to frontline jobs in parks.”
Deliberations on Clean Energy Project Delays
Turning the spotlight onto clean energy, Heinrich referenced a recent federal court decision that favored wind and solar companies challenging the administration’s policies. The court issued an injunction against the DOI to halt policies delaying new projects. Heinrich pressed Burgum on his department’s compliance with this order.
Burgum defended the DOI’s procedures, emphasizing the necessity of thorough project reviews. Despite Heinrich’s assertion that permits were being “slow-walked,” Burgum mentioned that the DOI’s legal team would address the litigation, stating, “We disagree with this [ruling].”
Heinrich stressed the importance of a functional permitting system for bipartisan support, urging, “We have to know that balls and strikes are going to be called — that there is not a thumb on the scale of this system.” Burgum expressed willingness to collaborate, agreeing on the need for impartiality in the process.
Heinrich concluded by pointing out several projects that had completed reviews but awaited final approval, underscoring the urgency of decision-making. “They’re all just lacking your signature. That’s not review. That is, by definition, slow-walking,” he stated.
Original Story at www.heinrich.senate.gov