WASHINGTON — Lawmakers told Energy Secretary Chris Wright they are worried about implementation risks created by voluntary buyouts, probationary firings and a federal hiring freeze at the Department of Energy.

Senator Patty Murray said the department has lost ‘‘over 3,500 DOE employees’’ to a buyout program and ‘‘fired 500 more,’’ and described contract cancellations and staffing reductions as already harming communities. “The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, which manages $20,000,000,000 in grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, lost more than 77% of its staff,” Murray said, adding that it will be “nearly impossible for that office to accomplish its basic functions” without staff.

Senators cited several examples where they said staffing and administrative uncertainty have delayed projects: grid resilience grants in Georgia that utilities have matched with private money, a federal grant to Bluebird Corporation to retool a Georgia factory for electric school buses, a Wisconsin company, Conovate, awaiting critical minerals accelerator funding, and small school HVAC projects in Oregon that cannot get contractor approvals.

Why it matters: Committee members said these disruptions threaten timely implementation of congressional appropriations and federal programs intended to strengthen grid reliability, scale advanced energy manufacturing, and accelerate domestic supply chains. Senator Ossoff told the secretary the uncertainty is creating private‑sector risk for projects that committed capital expecting federal support. Senator Merkley brought forward specific school district examples where contractors and project sponsors say they cannot reach DOE contacts to complete award requirements.

Wright said DOE is conducting a deliberate effort to “right‑size” the department and described the workforce reductions as part of a planned restructuring. He said some reviews are intended to ensure taxpayer money goes to credible projects, and that the department is trying to avoid approving buyouts in short‑staffed functions, particularly in power marketing administrations. On Bonneville specifically, Wright said operations are critical and the administration has worked to avoid disrupting power marketing agencies.

Several senators asked for immediate commitments to exempt mission‑critical functions from hiring freezes and to restore or replace staff where needed. The department said it would follow up on individual cases and requested senators provide specific contacts for unpaid invoices or stalled awards so staff can investigate.

The committee signaled it will continue oversight and may press for staffing minimums or other guardrails to ensure offices can meet statutory responsibilities.