Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
Senate Energy and Natural Resources on Thursday advanced a slate of nominees set to play crucial roles at DOE and Interior.
Why it matters: The Trump administration is finally close to having Senate-confirmed leadership at the high-level offices that will execute its energy policy agenda.
Driving the news: Andrea Travnicek, picked to be Interior's assistant secretary for water and science; Leslie Beyer, nominated to lead land and minerals management at Interior; and Theodore Garrish, slated to lead DOE's nuclear energy office, all advanced on 14-6 votes.
- The panel also approved the nomination of Tristan Abbey to lead the Energy Information Administration 12-8 — but without support from Ranking Member Martin Heinrich and most other Democrats.
- Heinrich raised concern about EIA nixing a lengthy analysis from its recently released 2025 Annual Energy Outlook.
- "I don't blame Mr. Abbey for this — he hasn't been there yet — but neither do I believe he is the correct person to stand up to this administration and defend EIA's independence and integrity," Heinrich said.
What we're watching: Garrish, during his confirmation hearing last week, said he backs federal support for financing nuclear reactors.
- That issue is increasingly getting traction from members on both sides of the Hill and the Trump administration.
- "We need to develop a series of mechanisms for financing of reactors," he said. "The private sector can do some of this. The loan office can help."
