Lawmakers press DOE on ‘frozen’ awards and massive loan commitments; Wright says reviews are ongoing
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Summary
Members accused the Department of Energy of withholding tens of billions in awards and of procedural irregularities in recent loan commitments; Secretary Wright denied unlawful withholding, said active projects are being paid, and acknowledged a review of recently committed funds.
Several members of the House Appropriations subcommittee asked Secretary Chris Wright on May 7 to explain why DOE had paused or recommended cancellation of awards, withheld funds and carried out unusually large loan program commitments late in the previous administration.
The exchange matters because program awards and loan commitments directly affect dozens of “shovel‑ready” projects, job creation and the deployment of energy infrastructure funded by congressional appropriations.
Representative Rosa DeLauro and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz said the department had failed to provide a required spend plan under the continuing resolution and alleged that tens of billions of dollars in awards remained “frozen.” DeLauro said the department had not submitted the detailed spend plan required by the continuing resolution. Wasserman Schultz said roughly $67 billion remained frozen and tied the freezes to court orders; she asked whether the secretary would immediately release funds. Secretary Wright replied the department was “in compliance with the law,” said active projects were being paid and disputed the premise that DOE had frozen funds, but he acknowledged the department was reviewing recently committed funds and contract milestones.
Wright repeatedly highlighted the loan program office’s recent activity: he told the committee the loan program office disbursed “a little over $40 billion” in its first 15 years, and then, in the 76 days between the election and inauguration, the office issued about $100 billion in loans and loan commitments. He said the department is examining those rapid commitments to ensure taxpayer funds were deployed appropriately.
Members asked for lists of projects under review and for criteria the department is using to evaluate which awards will move forward; Wright agreed to follow up and to provide briefings. He told the committee that to date the department had canceled zero projects but that it was reviewing feasibility, legal, technical and market criteria before advancing new disbursements.
No formal cancellations were recorded during the hearing; members requested timely written follow‑up and documentation about awards, cancellations under consideration and the loan program’s recent activity.
