Trump considers oil billionaire Hamm to lead DoE
by Julie Pace, The Associated Press
The President-Elect also named Reince Priebus chief of staff, according to his transition planning document
WASHINGTON—President-elect Donald Trump is considering oil billionaire Harold Hamm and North Dakota Rep. Kevin Cramer to lead the Department of Energy.
Trump is also considering venture capitalist Robert Grady for the top energy job, according to a transition planning document obtained by The Associated Press. Grady, who worked in President George H.W. Bush’s administration, is also listed on the document as a possible pick to lead the Interior Department.
The planning document includes several energy and environmental priorities for the next administration, including repealing the Clean Power Plan. The plan was introduced by the Obama administration and aims to limit carbon pollution from power plants.
The power plant plan is currently on hold awaiting a court ruling. The transition planning document says that if the court doesn’t rule by the time Trump takes office, his administration will likely seek to have the case dismissed.
Chief of staff
Reince Priebus says Breitbart News executive Stephen Bannon has been a hard worker and sober decision maker in the months the two have steered Donald Trump toward the presidency.
Trump fired a shot across the Washington establishment’s bow by tapping Breitbart News executive Stephen Bannon as chief strategist and senior counsellor.
Priebus, the newly named White House chief of staff told NBC’s “Today” show that Bannon has exhibited none of the racist, sexist or other qualities attributed to him and the Breitbart website.
The site specializes in button-pushing, traffic-trolling headlines, including one that called conservative commentator Bill Kristol a “Republican spoiler, renegade Jew.” Others asked, “Would you rather your child had feminism or cancer?” and “Birth control makes women unattractive and crazy.”
Priebus says those things weren’t Bannon’s writing. He expects to work with Bannon as a partner in slightly different roles the Trump administration.
The two men had made up the president-elect’s chief of staff shortlist, and while Priebus received that job, Bannon’s post also is expected to wield significant clout. The media executive with ties to the alt-right and white nationalist movement was given top billing in the press release announcing their appointments.
Trump’s hires announced Sunday were, at first glance, contradictory. But they fit a pattern of the celebrity businessman creating a veritable Rorschach test that allowed his supporters to see what they wanted.
