The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved two of President Trump’s important energy nominees with bipartisan votes Tuesday.
The committee voted 16-4 for Dan Brouillette to replace Rick Perry as secretary of the Energy Department, with five Democrats crossing over to join Republicans in approving him. It approved James Danly as a Republican commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by a narrower 12-8 vote, with Joe Manchin, the ranking member, the only Democrat voting in support.
Brouillette is currently the deputy energy secretary, working as Perry’s second-in-command on behalf of the Trump administration’s “energy dominance” agenda.
Danly has been the FERC general counsel since 2017 and is a former lawyer at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
Brouillette and Danly experienced smooth confirmation hearings, successfully navigating questions on their support for clean energy in an administration known for favoring fossil fuels. Their nominations now proceed to votes before the full Republican-controlled Senate, where they are both expected to be confirmed.
In other business Tuesday, the energy committee also approved Katharine MacGregor to be deputy secretary of the Interior Department, the second-in-command position to Secretary David Bernhardt.
