“During a two-part hearing, I asked Representative Haaland multiple questions relating to oil and gas leasing and permitting issues on federal lands, challenges with Oklahoma’s energy during extreme weather last month, and following the science to declassify the American Burying Beetle as an endangered species. Her non-committal answers and record does not show a commitment to ensuring we have the power we need to fuel our homes and clean air, water, and land. I could not support her confirmation today,” said Lankford in a statement at the time.
Murkowski’s lack of support for Klein, a former Obama administration official and deputy director of the State Energy and Environmental Impact Center at the New York University School of Law prompted the White House this week to pull the nomination.
Murkowski is considered a moderate Republican whose vote is crucial to Biden’s legislative agenda and who has sought to expand the oil and gas industry in her state, one of the sources familiar with the matter said reported POLITICO.
Klein joined the State Impact Center, which supports state attorneys general in their advocacy for clean energy and climate and environmental laws and policies, at its founding in 2017. She served at the Department of the Interior during both the Bill Clinton and Barack Obama administrations—most recently as Interior’s associate deputy secretary as well as principal deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Policy, Management and Budget.