Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member John Barrasso (R-WY) is blasting Energy Department officials for quietly meeting with Chinese government officials and members of the Chinese Communist Party on climate change and reducing emissions, claiming these meetings raised national security concerns and questions about the department’s transparency. 

In a letter sent to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Monday, the Republican conference chairman cited several Chinese media outlets to outline three separate meetings that occurred between CCP and People’s Republic of China figures and DOE officials, one of whom was Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk. Barrasso claimed that these meetings “went beyond mere diplomatic courtesies,” and instead served as “forums” where U.S. research was offered up to benefit Chinese companies and, by extension, the CCP.