A new report uncovers how the fossil fuel industry has infiltrated Donald Trump’s administration. Millions in donations from oil and gas companies secured key appointments, while policies and tax breaks were shaped to protect fossil fuel interests at the expense of climate action.
Fossil fuel industry ties within the Trump administration
At least $96 million were reportedly donated by fossil fuel executives and lobbyists to support Donald Trump’s campaign and affiliated political groups. The same donors also contributed an additional $11.8 million to fund expenses for his second inauguration.
In return, Trump placed oil and gas insiders and members of conservative think tanks in charge of federal energy and environmental agencies. Many were appointed to key roles based on their industry ties, often with no relevant experience for the positions they were assigned.
Since taking office, Trump has also introduced tax breaks and trade benefits favoring the same sector, reinforcing the alliance between his administration and fossil fuel corporations.
The deep network of fossil fuel influence
According to the report, 43 of 111 senior officials appointed across nine key federal agencies previously worked in the fossil fuel industry. Among them is Energy Secretary Chris Wright, former CEO of the fracking company Liberty Energy. The list includes oil executives, corporate attorneys, lobbyists, and Republican political figures aligned with the MAGA anti-climate agenda.
Out of all profiles analyzed, 29 officials had prior leadership roles in high-emission industries such as chemicals, automotive, and mining. Fourteen were former corporate lawyers, twelve were linked to right-wing think tanks funded by fossil fuel companies, seven were tied to Republican political operations, and six came from utilities or the nuclear energy sector. These individuals now hold authority in federal agencies responsible for shaping U.S. energy and environmental policy.
Project 2025: the conservative plan behind the appointments
Many of the appointments and policy actions are guided by Project 2025, a strategic plan designed by the Heritage Foundation and other far-right organizations. Acting as a recruitment channel, the plan aims to consolidate fossil fuel power in the federal government for years to come.
Trump’s administration has justified these moves through the declaration of an “energy emergency,” used to rationalize regulatory attacks on renewable energy and accelerate fossil fuel expansion.
Deregulation, propaganda, and attacks on science
Trump launched the most extensive environmental deregulation campaign in U.S. history. Federal agencies were stripped of scientific and technical staff, research and innovation budgets were cut, and multiple environmental protections were rolled back or delayed.
The administration even announced plans to revoke the Endangerment Finding, the scientific and legal foundation that enables the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. This move signaled a direct assault on climate science and the authority of public institutions to protect the environment.
Public lands offered to extractive industries
The rollback did not stop at environmental regulation. Trump’s policies also targeted public lands, national forests, and protected areas. The tax reform known as the “One Big Beautiful Act” opened vast stretches of federal land to drilling and mining operations, while eliminating incentives for renewable energy development.
At the center of this policy shift is Doug Burgum, the current Secretary of the Interior and former North Dakota governor. For years, Burgum served as a bridge between oil and gas donors and Trump’s campaign. He has blurred the line between public land management and corporate interests, declaring in January: “This is America’s balance sheet, and if we were a company, people would look at us and say, ‘Wow, you’re really limiting your budget.’”
Burgum has worked to suppress renewable energy initiatives, promoted coal as a “fundamental resource,” and even urged the government to reimburse fossil fuel companies for canceled projects.
The consequences of fossil fuel lobbying under Trump
Trump’s current strategy mirrors his first term, when he appointed executives like ExxonMobil’s Rex Tillerson and lobbyists Andrew Wheeler and David Bernhardt, figures known for their efforts to dismantle environmental protections and expand oil and gas production.
The officials now leading Trump’s second administration appear even more aggressive in supporting fossil fuel and mining interests. Their approach channels public resources into private profits, weakens fair competition, and undermines the federal government’s role as environmental guardian.
This reconfiguration of federal institutions in favor of the fossil fuel industry poses a systemic threat to global climate progress. The combination of deregulation, science denial, and the dismantling of environmental safeguards risks stalling energy innovation, increasing pollution, and undermining the United States’ international climate commitments.
Read the full report: Trump’s Polluter Playground: Fossil Fuel Insiders & Ideologues Prop Up Dirty Energy & Derail Clean Power
