Energy nominee Chris Wright, and Interior nominee Doug Burgum. (Wright image from Senate committee screengrab; Burgum photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted Thursday to advance President Donald Trump’s nominees to lead the Interior and Energy Departments — but only one received a blessing from Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.
Cortez Masto, who serves on the committee, backed the nomination of former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the Interior Department, while opposing Chris Wright to lead the Energy Department.
Both nominees are expected to be confirmed by the Republican controlled Senate.
Nevada’s senior senator signaled her opposition to Wright’s nomination last week, when the Trump nominee stopped short of condemning the long-term disposal of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.
If approved by the full Republican controlled Senate, Wright would lead a department that manages the country’s nuclear weapons stockpile and oversees nuclear infrastructure.
During Wright’s confirmation hearing last week, the CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy expressed strong interest in improving the domestic supply of enriched uranium — a critical component for both nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons.
In a press release after the vote, Cortez Masto’s office highlighted the senator’s commitment to ensuring Yucca Mountain remains unfunded under Trump.
Congress designated Nevada’s Yucca Mountain as the nation’s official nuclear repository during the administration of Republican president George W. Bush in 2002. However, the project was subject to intense legal and regulatory proceedings for the next several years. The Department of Energy eventually discontinued the site’s licensing application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the Barack Obama administration.
During his first term, Trump attempted to restart funding for Yucca, but was thwarted by Congress.
Last week, Cortez Masto announced her intention to reintroduce legislation to prevent the construction of a nuclear waste site without the consent of local governments and Native American tribes.
Cortez Masto also criticized Wright for dodging questions about whether he would support cutting funding to the Nevada National Security Site and other Nevada programs.
“This week, President Trump signed executive orders that will gut key energy investments in Nevada – killing jobs, raising prices, and putting our national security in danger. During his confirmation hearing, I repeatedly pressed Chris Wright about whether he would support cuts to critical Nevada programs – and he refused to answer. For those reasons, I oppose his confirmation,” Cortez Masto said.
Wright received bipartisan support from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, garnering a 15-5 vote to lead the Energy Department. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono, Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell, and California Sen. Alex Padilla, all Democrats, joined Cortez Masto in opposing Wright.
In contrast, Cortez Masto voted to advance Trump’s Interior Secretary nominee, North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, out of the committee and on to the Senate floor.
Burgum “understands the need for a balanced approach to Nevada’s public land management that safeguards our environment, spurs clean-energy development, protects farmers and ranchers, and increases the housing supply,” Cortez Masto said in a statement after the vote. Burgum has “worked closely” with Tribes in North Dakota, Cortez Masto added.
If confirmed by the Senate, Burgum would be tasked with fulfilling Trump’s campaign promise to “drill, baby, drill,” and increase oil, gas, and coal production on public lands.
Burgum, a wealthy software executive turned Republican governor, is a close ally of the fossil fuel industry and has filed a handful of lawsuits against the agency he may soon run, including a challenge to open more oil and gas leasing in North Dakota.
Burgum would also be charged with implementing Trump’s recent executive order to halt wind power development.
During his Senate hearing, Burgum said he supported an all-inclusive energy portfolio that allows for renewable energy, while supporting the development of oil, natural gas, and coal operations.The former North Dakota governor received bipartisan support in his bid to lead the Interior Department, advancing to the Senate floor on a 18-2 vote.