Heinrich in 2023. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Sen. Martin Heinrich accused Sen. Mike Lee of breaching ENR "protocol and precedent" by announcing a confirmation hearing next week for Interior nominee Doug Burgum.
Why it matters: The rift over the first ENR hearing is an early sign of trouble between the two energy committee leaders after Heinrich told Axios last month that he expected a "very cordial" relationship with Lee.
Driving the news: The committee is still waiting for "basic information" from Burgum, including a completed financial disclosure form, an FBI background check, approval from the agency's ethics office, and responses to a standard questionnaire, Heinrich said.
- Lee's office late Tuesday noticed Burgum's hearing for Jan. 14.
- In a statement, Lee said Burgum filed paperwork to the Office of Government Ethics last week and that ENR currently has the same amount of paperwork that Democrats had on nominees when they noticed confirmation hearings in 2009.
- "It's disappointing to see Ranking Member Heinrich seeking to delay issuance of a hearing notice instead of focusing on delivering what voters demanded in November's election: restoring American energy dominance after years of high energy prices and policy failures," Lee said.
What he's saying: "I am extremely disappointed that Chairman Lee has scheduled the first Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee confirmation hearing over my objection," Heinrich said in a statement today.
- Committee rules around noticing public hearings a week in advance have been followed "over decades by chairs of both parties," Heinrich said.
Context: The spat comes as Senate Democrats seek to delay Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation hearing, citing similar complaints of uncompleted background checks and forms, Axios Hill Leaders scooped Tuesday.
What's next: We're watching for any hearing notice for Trump's DOE nominee, Chris Wright, whom we told you is expected to come before ENR on Jan. 15.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from Sen. Mike Lee.
