Failing Up: Blocked Biden Nominee Now Overseeing White House Effort to Potentially Shutter Major Energy Source
10th July 2024
Shortly after Laura Daniel-Davis failed Senate confirmation for the second time last year, the White House appointed her to serve as the second in command at the Department of the Interior—a promotion. Now, she has been given yet another senior role crafting energy policy potentially impacting millions of Americans.
Last month, the White House created a new task force to oversee the government’s controversial review of four federally managed dams located within the Columbia River system in southern Washington State. The task force’s work could ultimately lead to the dams, which provide power to millions of residents and allow large quantities of agricultural products to be transported, being torn down over environmental concerns.
Buried in the announcement was the revelation that Daniel-Davis, the Interior Department’s acting deputy secretary, will co-chair the task force alongside Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration assistant administrator for fisheries Janet Coit.