Secretary of Energy
Chris Wright is an American engineer, businessman and government official. He was nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed as the U.S. Secretary of Energy on February 3, 2025. ProPublica+3Wikipedia+3Politico+3
Before his government role, he founded and led Liberty Energy (formerly Liberty Oilfield Services), a major hydraulic-fracturing (fracking) company. Wikipedia+1
He holds degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in mechanical engineering (BS) and electrical engineering (MS), and attended graduate studies at University of California, Berkeley. Wikipedia
What the investigations / controversies are
There are multiple areas of concern around Chris Wright that have attracted scrutiny. Here are the main ones:
Allegations of racial-bias settlement at Liberty Energy
In December 2024, it was reported that Liberty Energy settled a lawsuit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) alleging racial bias. Politico Pro
The lawsuit did not specifically allege personal wrongdoing by Wright, but his role as CEO during the period draws attention. Politico Pro
Conflict of interest / financial disclosure concerns
Reports indicate Wright made large personal investments (e.g., millions of dollars) in real-estate investment vehicles (e.g., REOF XXVII LLC, REOF XXV LLC) while serving in his official capacity, which raised questions about potential conflicts of interest. NOTUS
Although he signed ethics agreements, some observers say the investments raise “apparent” conflict issues given his policy role. NOTUS
Contradictory statements / misrepresentation of climate data
Wright’s public statements on energy policy and climate change have drawn criticism for seemingly contradictory messages:
At his Senate confirmation hearing he acknowledged climate change is “a real issue” and supported evolving the energy system. Colorado Public Radio+1
But in conservative-audience speeches, he has dismissed the transition to renewables, said “the world simply runs on hydrocarbons”, and claimed there are no replacements for coal, oil, and gas. ProPublica+1
Critics argue that he misrepresents or selectively uses data to downplay the urgency of climate change. The Equation+1
Operational friction with the White House / DOE management concerns
According to a recent report, Wright’s tenure at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been marked by internal tension and policy/messaging discord with the White House. For example, his handling of clean-energy grant decisions and natural-gas export approvals created friction. Politico