President-elect Donald Trump has announced four high-profile nominations for his administration, with three focused on shaping energy and national security policy and one dedicated to tackling housing issues.
Trump made the announcements in a series of posts on Truth Social on Jan. 16, in which he highlighted the nominees’ experience and, in some cases, touched on his vision for U.S. energy dominance.
Praising his acumen as an accomplished businessman and scientist, Trump highlighted Gil’s roles as chairman of the National Science Board and senior vice president and director of IBM Research. Gil, who holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT, also served on the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology during the previous Trump administration.
Williams’s experience in nuclear security includes service as a nuclear submarine officer and strategic missile officer in the U.S. Navy, roles that Trump highlighted in his announcement.
Griffith’s career includes positions such as senior advisor to the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and senior director for energy and environment on the National Security Council. He also served as acting assistant secretary for International Affairs at the DOE, where he played a significant role in fostering global energy partnerships.
“Wells will now work with our highly respected Secretary of Energy Nominee, Chris Wright, to DRILL, BABY, DRILL, and unleash American Energy Dominance,” Trump wrote.
In November, Trump nominated Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy and a prominent figure in the fracking industry, to helm the DOE. Wright outlined his energy policies at a Jan. 15 Senate confirmation hearing during which he vowed to implement Trump’s “bold energy agenda.”
“President Trump shares my passion for energy,” Wright said. “And if confirmed, I will work tirelessly to implement his bold agenda as an unabashed steward for all sources of affordable, reliable and secure American energy.”
Emphasizing a broad-based “all-of-the-above” approach to energy development, Wright pledged to sustain funding for research programs, streamline permitting processes, promote natural gas exports, and accelerate efforts to expand the electric grid.
Questioned about his attitude towards climate change, Wright acknowledged that it’s a real phenomenon but insisted it’s wrongheaded to discriminate against certain sources of energy.
“There isn’t dirty energy or clean energy,” Wright said. Rather, various energy sources have a role to play in the nation’s energy mix, just that they have different tradeoffs that policymakers should understand and take into account in their decisions.
“Energy is critical to human lives. Climate change is a global challenge that we need to solve,” Wright said. “And tradeoffs between those two are the decisions politicians make and they’re the decisions that will impact the future of our world and our quality of life.”
In his role at the FHFA, Pulte could bring a renewed focus on increasing the housing supply and making home ownership more affordable. Bob Broeksmit, CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, said he looks forward to working with Pulte on various policies and programs of the incoming administration.
“We look forward to working with him and the FHFA staff on policies and programs that boost housing supply and create affordable opportunities for our nation’s homebuyers and renters while protecting taxpayers and ensuring a robust secondary mortgage market and Federal Home Loan Bank system for single-family and multifamily lenders,” Broeksmit said in a statement.
Broeksmit’s comments suggest stakeholders are looking to Pulte to deliver policies that expand housing opportunities, protect public funds, and maintain the stability of federal lending systems.
