VIDEO: Heinrich Opening Remarks During Nomination Hearing for James Danly for Energy Deputy Secretary & Katharine MacGregor for Interior Deputy Secretary

WASHINGTON – During opening remarks in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee nomination hearing to consider James Danly for the U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE), and Katharine MacGregor for the U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Department of Interior (DOI), U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Committee, sought commitments from the nominees to follow the law as enacted by Congress.

VIDEO: Heinrich Delivers Opening Remarks in Hearing to Consider James Danley for Deputy Energy Secretary and Katharine MacGregor for Deputy Interior Secretary, April 2, 2025.

Heinrich began his remarks by sounding off on reports that Elon Musk’s "Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) is considering to illegally rescind funding passed into law and cancel or renegotiate existing funding contracts with companies, some of which fund projects already under construction.

Heinrich then stressed to the nominees the costly consequences to American families of terminating investments passed into law by Congress,

“It is estimated that more than 50,000 energy jobs have already been lost under Trump’s watch. The Administration’s actions are also constricting the fastest-growing and most affordable power sources, just as demand from manufacturing and data center growth is surging, meaning that energy costs will soar. Electricity prices are already on track to be the highest they have been since the 1990s.”

Heinrich continued by highlighting the harm Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE has inflicted on families, cost of living, and our public lands.

Heinrich concluded by urging the nominees to answer how they will return their departments to a path of public service, securing American leadership and competitiveness, and responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

Senator Heinrich’s full remarks as prepared for delivery are below.

Thank you, Chairman Lee. And welcome Ms. MacGregor and Mr. Danly. Before we get to Commitee business, I do want to address the troubling reports that DOE is considering cancelling or renegotiating existing funding contracts with companies, some of which are under construction.

As I wrote to Secretary Wright in a letter, and I will remind Mr. Danly and Ms. MacGregor today, the decision to rescind these awards rests with Congress, not with the President or Elon Musk.

However, even before these so-called “kill lists” were leaked, we already started seeing the economic impact of the Administration’s reckless actions. It is estimated that more than 50,000 energy jobs have already been lost under Trump’s watch.

The Administration’s actions are also constricting the fastest-growing and most affordable power sources, just as demand from manufacturing and data center growth is surging, meaning that energy prices will soar. Electricity prices are already on track to be the highest they have been since the 1990s. Terminating projects in the name of 'energy dominance’ is not only ludicrous, it will lead to higher energy costs for households.

All of this is only the newest phase in this administration’s campaign of chaos at federal agencies and actions that are raising energy costs.

Both the Interior and Energy Departments have been subject to whiplash in just the last two months--

--from illegally firing thousand of employees only to be required to rehire them
--to announcements that agency buildings would be closed or sold, or maybe not.

-- to freezing grant funds and canceling contracts in contravention of federal law, only to see some unfrozen...while others still remain inexplicably frozen

This has got to be the least efficient way to run a government.

For the Department of the Interior, all of this mismanagement has real on-the-ground impacts for people and communities.

We’ve seen closed visitors centers and overflowing trash cans at parks.

Field offices have shorter hours, and it’s harder for people to reach front line staff when they have questions.

Small businesses are worried about if their permits will be processed.

Scientists are struggling to cover expenses because the federal government has backed out of contracts.

Our public lands are the birthright of every American, but if something doesn’t change, and soon, at the agencies that care for them on our behalf, we will lose that birthright.

I have a number of questions today for these two nominees and their plans for the Energy and Interior Departments.

Both departments were created by statute. They were not created at the whim of any President. They do not exist at the President’s pleasure. The laws they execute, the programs they administer, the funds they spend, were enacted, created, and appropriated by law, by Congress.

I will be looking for assurances from both nominees that they are committed to following the law, as enacted by Congress, rather than doing the bidding of Elon Musk.

I hope to hear how they will get these departments returned back to a path of public service, and back on track to securing American leadership and competitiveness, and responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

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