Chris Wright

Secretary of Energy

Department of Energy

Who Does This Official Serve?

Industry Insider

Prior Industry: Liberty Energy (Fossil Fuel / Fracking CEO)

CEO of Liberty Energy, a fracking services company, for 14 years. Now heads the Department of Energy — which oversees nuclear weapons, energy research, and clean energy policy. Climate change denier regulating climate-related energy.

Appointed

January 20, 2025

1 year, 6 months in office

Confirmation Vote

52-47

Conflict Risk

Critical

(30 pts)

3 conflicts identified

🔄Revolving Door Analysis

Industry Insider

Prior Industry: Liberty Energy (Fossil Fuel / Fracking CEO)

⚠️ Conflicts of Interest (3)

💰 Financial(1)

Critical

CEO of fracking company overseeing energy policy

💭 Ideology(1)

Critical

Climate change denier leading agency responsible for clean energy

🚨 Corruption(1)

Critical

Will profit from pro-fossil fuel policies

Affected Federal Programs

Programs under Department of Energy affected by executive orders.

Programs Affected (2)

🟡

Federal Clean Energy Incentives($8.2B/yr)Under Review

IRA-funded clean energy tax credits, DOE loan programs, and renewable energy research grants. Some programs paused or defunded under energy emergency declaration.

15.0M people affected

🟢

Coal Power Plant Subsidies($640.0M/yr)Expanded

New subsidies and regulatory relief for coal-fired power plants designated as critical to national defense. Includes exemptions from emissions standards and grid priority mandates.

330.0M people affected

Career Path

🔄 Revolving Door

Direct revolving doorLobbying / Media backgroundCareer public servant

CEO

Liberty Energy

2011-present

Various Roles

Oil and Gas Industry

1980s-present

Now Serving As

Secretary of Energy

Department of Energy

2025–Present

Policy Positions

Fossil Fuels

Expand oil and gas production

Climate

Climate change skeptic/denier

Renewable Energy

Opposes subsidies, prefers fossil fuels

Fracking

Strong advocate

💰 Agency Budget — FY2026

Source: USASpending.gov

$134.2B

Budget Authority

$20.0B

Obligated

1.0%

of Federal Budget

Department of Energy1.01% of total

Top Contract Awards (FY2023–2026)

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP

Contract award

$48.1B

NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA, LLC

IGF::CL,CT::IGF CONTRACT AWARD DE-NA0003525 TO THE NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY&ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA, LLC (NTESS) FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION'S SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES (SNL)

$41.5B

UT-BATTELLE LLC

MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THE OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY

$40.7B

About Department of Energy

The Department of Energy addresses energy security, nuclear safety, and scientific research related to energy and national security.

Federal Budget & Awards

FY 2023-2025 • Source: USASpending.gov

Last updated 7/27/2026

Latest FY Obligations

$77.4B

Contracts (Top Awards)

$617.5B

Grants (Top Awards)

Largest Program Funding Changes

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Energy Programs, Energy

+$8.5B

Clean Energy Demonstrations, Energy Programs, Energy

+$7.8B

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Energy Programs, Energy

+$2.4B

Defense Environmental Cleanup, Environmental and Other Defense Activities, Energy

+$2.3B

Federal Salaries and Expenses, National Nuclear Security Administration, Energy

+$2.2B

Top Contract & Grant Awards

LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP

Unknown

$48.1B

NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS OF SANDIA, LLC

Unknown

$42.6B

UT-BATTELLE LLC

Unknown

$42.1B

LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC

Unknown

$41.2B

REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE

Unknown

$35.3B

TRIAD NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC

Unknown

$35.0B

← Back to Cabinet