Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich is demanding the Interior Department produce its legal justification for installing an official affiliated with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency in a key leadership post, calling the action “baffling and extremely troubling.”
The New Mexico Democrat released a May 7 letter he sent to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, pressing for details about his decision to hand over control of the agency’s administrative functions to Tyler Hassen.
“The Department plays a vital role in managing public lands, safeguarding cultural resources, and engaging in responsible energy development,” Heinrich wrote. “Delegating sweeping authorities and responsibilities to a non-Senate confirmed person in violation of the Vacancies Reform Act is baffling and extremely troubling.”
Hassen, a former oil field services company executive who became a member of Elon Musk’s DOGE team, was tapped to be Interior’s acting assistant secretary for policy, management and budget in March.
