The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee lost its staff director on Wednesday, just as the panel is looking to develop comprehensive energy legislation and push through a number of President Trump’s energy and public lands appointees.
Colin Hayes, who had worked for the committee in various capacities for over a decade, will leave at the end of the month. Brian Hughes, who serves as the committee’s deputy staff director, will succeed him.
“With Colin at the helm, I never once had to worry about the direction or the quality of the committee’s work,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, the chairwoman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, in a Wednesday statement.
Brian Hughes, who is replacing Hayes, has been a member of the energy committee’s staff for a decade.
“He will continue our tradition of guiding the committee’s work toward sound policy outcomes that reflect member priorities and are good for our country,” said Murkowski.
