Earthjustice Action Blasts Continuation of Industry Favors During Government Shutdown, Praises Congressional Action Denouncing It
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, House Natural Resources Chair Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Ranking Member Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins demanding answers on why the federal agencies they head have continued non-essential services that benefit oil, gas, mining, coal, and logging industries while furloughing other essential employees and services.
“We write to express serious concern that your agencies have prioritized non-essential activities during the government shutdown to benefit the mining, drilling, and logging industries while curtailing or suspending work that helps protect life, property, and the public interest,” wrote the members. “Millions of working people face a loss of services upon which they depend every day because of Congressional Republicans’ inability to garner the votes to open the government even when they control both houses of Congress.”
“Despite hundreds of thousands of federal workers experiencing furloughs and layoffs, Tribal lands facing funding shortfalls, and other essential services grinding to a halt, the Trump Administration has somehow found the time to continue their ‘white glove concierge service’ to polluting industries,” said Earthjustice Action Vice President of Policy and Legislation Raúl García. “They’re using the shutdown to approve dirty projects while inexplicably blocking clean energy projects that produce cleaner and cheaper energy. We thank Chair Huffman and Rep. Ansari for calling out this blatant, baldfaced giveaway to polluters at the expense of families, workers, and communities.”
Amid the ongoing shutdown, parts of the Interior Department and USDA remain staffed and running. The administration has announced the approval of contentious mining projects like Ambler Road and the Libby Mining Projects, and most recently, new lease sales in Alaska’s Arctic. Additionally, administration officials have continued their assault on clean energy, cancelling numerous solar projects in Nevada.