Christie speaks at CERAWeek last week. Photo: F. Carter Smith/Bloomberg via Getty Images
FERC Chair Mark Christie said he's telling the White House that the commission is speeding permitting as he defends agency staffing needs in the face of DOGE inquiries.
Why it matters: Christie said Thursday that he's emphasized that the self-funded commission doesn't spend taxpayer money and is working on new NEPA review procedures after CEQ withdrew its guidance to agencies.
What he's saying: Christie said he responded to inquiries from OMB and OPM that asked agencies to identify places to reduce staffing and cut programs.
- He didn't recommend any specific cuts but said the agency is focused on accelerating permitting timelines.
- "The whole goal is to make sure that we keep the right people," Christie told reporters. "We keep the people who are doing the job, and so we can do our mission."
Case in point: FERC is adjusting its environmental justice review process after the CEQ scrapped an environmental justice screening tool, Christie said.
- Now, "you look at community impacts for all the people that are affected in the community — you just don't do it by the EJ definition," he said. "So that's been a change, and I think it's a good change."
Christie has also met with White House's National Energy Dominance Council and hopes to work closely with the new panel.
Between the lines: Christie declined to comment on Trump's firings this week of two Democratic FTC commissioners and whether that raises concerns.
- He said he's received "no specific directive" from the White House or DOE to keep coal plants running but said "we cannot keep losing" resources like coal, natural gas, and nuclear.
The bottom line: "We just continue to do our work — and, so far, there's not been an issue," Christie said.
