President-elect Donald Trump reportedly plans to appoint an “energy czar” to lead efforts in scaling back energy and climate regulations enacted during the Biden administration.
Drafts of executive orders and presidential proclamations are said to focus on reversing clean energy initiatives that critics claim have negatively impacted the economy.
Among the reported initiatives, Trump and his transition team are discussing appointing an “energy czar” to oversee domestic energy deregulation and potentially relocating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters outside of Washington, D.C. “The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin, giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail,” said Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for the Trump-Vance Transition, in a statement to Fox News Digital. “He will deliver.”
The transition team’s plans are emerging amid speculation about key agency appointments, particularly in environmental policy roles. The Times reported that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a former Republican presidential candidate, is under consideration for the “energy czar” role. Additionally, Dan Brouillette, who previously served as Trump’s energy secretary, has been floated as a potential candidate.
“President-elect Trump will begin making decisions on who will serve in his second administration soon,” Leavitt told The Times, noting that announcements will be made once selections are finalized.
The drafted plans reportedly include pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, expanding drilling and mining on federal lands, and loosening fossil fuel pollution regulations. Trump’s campaign emphasized his intent to undo Biden-era carbon emission reduction measures and to curb green energy initiatives tied to the Inflation Reduction Act.
“The green agenda is an elitist agenda,” stated Howard Lutnick, Trump transition team co-chair, during an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business. “Who is the strongest? Where? The Ivy League on the East Coast. Right? They’re the ones that are [pushing] climate change.” He argued that “real” Americans are more concerned with economic issues affecting their daily lives than with climate change.
