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Chris Wright

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, 2 months in office

Confirmation Vote

52-47

Conflict Risk

Critical

(30 pts)

3 conflicts identified

Estimated Net Worth

$50-100 million

🔄Revolving Door Analysis

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.

⚠️ 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

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.

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.

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