Top Committee Leaders Press Energy Department for Answers on Detrimental Departmental Policies and Unlawful Funding Freeze—Following Up on Repeated Requests

Today, the top Democrats in Congress with oversight over the Department of Energy (DOE) sent a letter to Secretary Chris Wright demanding information the Department has thus far failed to provide about its suspension of critical energy programs, cancellation of awards and contracts, mass reductions in force, and other detrimental actions.

In their letter, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee; Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, called on Secretary Wright to provide the transparency he promised but has so far failed to deliver about DOE’s policies and plans. 

“We write to follow up on the serious concerns outlined in several recent letters we have sent regarding the Department of Energy’s suspension of critical energy programs, cancellation of executed awards and contracts, mass reductions in staffing, and changes to contracting policies,” write the lawmakers. “Collectively, these actions have created mass confusion and uncertainty that is putting critical projects and initiatives at risk, and contributing to rising energy costs for American families and businesses—not to mention stunting what should be a strong period of economic growth across the energy sector.”

The lawmakers underscore how the Department’s vast freeze of enacted funding “are causing severe uncertainty and economic risk for energy stakeholders and communities that depend on the continuity of these investments.” 

“The recent comprehensive review and freeze of all DOE financial assistance and contracts, and the subsequent cancellations that may occur, not only undermine the spirit of competitive-based awards but also would be illegal and harmful to the public and energy consumers,” they add. “Your indiscriminate cancellations of projects and deliberate blocking of approved funding will increase energy prices, make our grid less secure, and stop energy innovation. If the Department has a policy disagreement and does not want to spend money on programs Congress has funded, the lawful response is to ask Congress to rescind that funding. The decision of what programs to fund—or not—ultimately rests with Congress, not with the President, DOE, or DOGE.”

They also note that the unprecedented staff reduction the Department is undertaking will seriously impair its ability to carry out its statutory responsibilities, writing: “DOE’s ability to effectively execute its statutory mission depends on the presence of qualified, experienced personnel. A hollowed-out workforce cannot administer the complex portfolio of federal energy programs Congress has funded.”

Additionally, they write that DOE’s new, arbitrary 15% cap on indirect costs for university research grants will weaken U.S. competitiveness and choke off essential research and innovation. “Cutting off this support, especially without warning or input from stakeholders, severely impedes universities’ ability to carry out the scientific work that has been authorized by Congress and has produced critical breakthroughs we all benefit from,” the lawmakers state.

The committee leaders conclude by renewing their prior, repeated requests for essential information about the Department’s funding freeze, compliance with the law, ongoing reductions in force, and other actions and policies—requesting responses by May 18.

The full letter is available HERE.