Nominees at Senate energy hearing pledge to speed permitting, defend scientific integrity and advance fossil-energy goals

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee took testimony from three nominees on the administration’s energy agenda and permitting reforms, with lawmakers pressing nominees on NEPA timelines, Department of Energy staffing and research priorities, and the future of carbon capture and battery manufacturing.

William Dauphmeier, nominated to be solicitor for the Department of the Interior, Catherine Jerezah, nominated to be assistant secretary of energy for electricity, and Kyle Haustfeit, nominated to be assistant secretary of energy for fossil energy, each described their backgrounds and answered senators’ questions about how they would approach statutory obligations and agency priorities if confirmed.

Dauphmeier told senators he recognizes NEPA is “a procedural statute, and it does require a hard look,” and said he would not “publish a final EIS and a record of decision that did not entail the necessary hard look and what’s required by the statute.” He also said a solicitor cannot overturn a federal district judge’s decision: “The short answer is no. I do not believe that the solicitor can overrule, a federal district judge.”

Senators pressing nominees ranged across priorities. Ranking Member Senator Heinrich pressed Dauphmeier on frozen appropriations and asked whether the solicitor would ensure that appropriated funds are obligated in accordance with law and the Impoundment Control Act; Dauphmeier said he would analyze the facts and law and give advice based on statutory requirements. Senator Hickenlooper asked about staff reductions at DOE and national labs; Jerezah acknowledged recent departures and said, if confirmed, she would assess staffing needs and work to ensure the office had appropriate resources.

Permitting reform and ambitious NEPA timelines were central themes. Chairman Lee and several senators discussed expedited internal deadlines the administration seeks for environmental assessments and environmental impact statements—14 and 28 days, respectively—asking whether such timeframes could meet NEPA’s “hard look” standard without creating litigation risk. Dauphmeier said time limits are ambitious and welcomed statutory reforms but warned that issuing a legally deficient EIS could create later remands and stop project construction, saying that would be “counterproductive.”

Policy questions also addressed energy markets and international trade. On LNG exports and a potential USTR action that could restrict exports, Haustfeit said restrictions would be “a negative for America” and pledged to work with senators to clarify jurisdictional questions should he be confirmed.

Committee members asked about other program areas. Senator Cortez Masto pressed nominees about DOE programs that support battery manufacturing and cited a proposed fiscal 2026 budget cut of roughly $15,000,000,000 from the bipartisan infrastructure law; Jerezah said energy storage research is within the Office of Electricity’s portfolio and pledged to work with lawmakers on innovation and commercialization. Senators also raised Puerto Rico resilience funding (a $1,000,000,000 congressional appropriation and approximately $365,000,000 in awards to community health centers), and carbon-capture projects tied to Alaska and other regions; Haustfeit committed to reviewing project agreements and to support commercially viable carbon-capture solutions.

Before testimony began, the committee swore in the witnesses. The hearing record will remain open for written statements through May 15, and questions for the record were due by 6 p.m. the day of the hearing, Chairman Lee said.