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Per a new examination, dozens of individuals with backgrounds in the fossil fuel industry have been positioned within the existing government, including over 40 who earlier served directly for coal companies.

Context of the Study

This analysis analyzed the profiles of appointees and personnel positioned in the executive branch and several government offices handling climate regulation. Those include important bodies like the EPA, the interior agency, and the energy office.

Wider Administrative Environment

The report surfaces amid continuing initiatives to roll back climate regulations and alternative energy programs. For instance, new bills have opened vast areas of public territory for extraction and reduced funding for sustainable power.

Amid the flood of negative developments that have occurred on the environment front... it’s important to educate the citizens that these are not just steps from the amorphous, ginormous thing that is the government broadly, stated a analyst involved in the analysis. It is frequently individual players coming from specific powerful groups that are executing this damaging pro-industry plan.

Major Discoveries

Authors found 111 staff whom they deemed as industry insiders and alternative energy adversaries. This covers 43 officials who were directly serving by gas companies. Among them are prominent senior leaders including the head of energy, who formerly worked as top executive of a hydraulic fracturing firm.

The roster additionally features lower-profile government personnel. For instance, the department responsible for renewable energy is led by a former fracking leader. Likewise, a senior energy counsel in the White House has served in top-level positions at major petroleum corporations.

Further Links

Another 12 personnel possess ties to industry-backed conservative policy organizations. Those include previous staff and researchers of groups that have actively fought alternative sources and championed the continuation of conventional sources.

A total of 29 additional appointees are previous industry leaders from polluting fields whose operations are closely connected to energy resources. Additional officials have associations with utility firms that market conventional power or elected officials who have advocated pro-oil initiatives.

Departmental Focus

Researchers identified that 32 staff at the Department of the Interior alone have ties to fossil fuel industries, rendering it the most heavily influenced national agency. That includes the secretary of the agency, who has long accepted industry support and served as a bridge between fossil fuel business donors and the administration.

Political Funding

Oil and gas supporters provided substantial funds to the campaign operation and ceremony. Since entering the White House, the leadership has not only enacted pro-fossil fuel regulations but also crafted tax breaks and exemptions that favor the field.

Qualifications Issues

Alongside industry-linked candidates, the authors noted a number of government leaders who were selected to influential jobs with scant or no subject matter experience.

Those people may not be connected to the energy sector so explicitly, but their unfamiliarity is problematic, said a analyst. It’s logical to think they will be compliant, or susceptible individuals, for the oil industry’s agenda.

For instance, the candidate to lead the EPA’s office of general counsel has limited court background, having not ever handled a legal matter to verdict, nor conducted a deposition, and nor filed a legal request.

During a separate example, a White House advisor working on energy matters came to the position after working in positions separate to the sector, with no apparent direct energy industry or regulatory background.

White House Response

One official for the executive branch rejected the findings, stating that the administration’s personnel are exceptionally qualified to execute on the people’s directive to boost national resource production.

Historical and Present Context

This government enacted a significant array of anti-environmental actions during its previous tenure. During its present term, equipped with pro-business agendas, it has initiated a much more extensive and harsher dismantling on climate policies and clean power.

There’s no embarrassment, commented a expert. Officials are proud and prepared to go out there and promote the fact that they are executing favors for the energy industry, extractive industry, the coal industry.