Sen. Lankford targets energy spending in ninth “Federal Fumbles” report
Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford released the ninth edition of his “Federal Fumbles” report, a recurring publication that highlights federally funded projects he argues demonstrate wasteful spending, inefficiencies, fraud, and improper payments across the federal government.
Energy-related programs were among those cited in the report, which details what the senator described as questionable research grants, weak oversight of taxpayer dollars sent overseas, systemic failures in federal food assistance programs, and the high cost of government shutdowns. The report also outlines specific policy recommendations aimed at preventing similar failures in the future.
“It’s Federal Fumbles season again. My ninth edition takes a hard look at the spending and inefficiencies that leave taxpayers wondering what Washington is doing with their money and why government is not serving them,” Lankford said.
“From research projects that raise eyebrows to dollars sent overseas with little oversight to fraud in food programs to shutdowns that cost billions, the pattern is the same.”
Energy research grants questioned in the report
Among the energy-related examples cited by the Republican senator was $150,000 in federal spending to study how COVID-19 and climate change affect herring populations in Alaska.
“It has been almost 6 years since COVID-19 spread around the world, but we are still studying the effects it has…on fish? You heard that right!” the report stated.
According to the Federal Fumbles listing, the project was intended to create an oral history archive consisting of 17 semi-structured interviews and field observations to record Indigenous knowledge from herring harvesters whose practices were allegedly impacted by climate change and COVID-19.
“The project is designed to create an oral history archive with 17 semi-structured interviews and field observations to record the Indigenous knowledge of herring harvesters whose practices have been adversely affected by climate change and COVID-19. Huh? $149,961. Sack at the line,” the report continued.
Pipeline permitting and Clean Water Act criticism
Sen. Lankford also used the report to again raise concerns about permitting reform, particularly as it affects pipeline construction and energy infrastructure projects.
The senator focused on Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, which requires projects that may discharge into waters of the United States to obtain water quality certification before construction can begin. Lankford argued that the provision has effectively become a veto tool for states, tribes, and federal agencies.
“This framework has increasingly been weaponized by left-leaning states and cities to block nearly all new pipeline projects—not because of legitimate water quality concerns but to advance climate agendas and restrict the development and use of fossil fuels,” Lankford wrote.
Postal Service EV rollout also targeted
Under the heading “EVs with no E,” the senator criticized the U.S. Postal Service’s plan to spend $19 billion modernizing its aging delivery fleet, including a commitment to electric vehicles.
According to the report, the USPS initially planned for 10% electric vehicles, but later revised the plan to include 66,000 EVs after pressure from the Biden administration—without allocating sufficient charging infrastructure.
“They did not allocate enough chargers for their new EV fleet,” Lankford wrote.
“This shortfall has left thousands of the new electric vehicles idle. It is a frustrating example of how focusing on climate more than practicability can adversely impact the use of taxpayers’ money.”
Tax policy changes affecting energy producers
Another energy-related issue highlighted by the senator involved tax policy changes tied to the Inflation Reduction Act and subsequent legislative fixes.
Lankford said the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, created under the Biden administration, resulted in unequal treatment of oil and gas producers, who were unable to deduct standard business costs available to other capital-intensive industries.
“Unlike other capital-intensive industries, oil and gas companies cannot deduct their normal business costs like every other business. That puts American energy producers at a disadvantage,” he wrote.
The senator said that provision was later corrected in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law last July, through inclusion of his Promoting Domestic Energy Production Act, which he said restored parity for energy producers.
“Federal Fumbles” framed as reform roadmap
Sen. Lankford emphasized that Federal Fumbles is intended to be more than a critique of federal spending.
“Too often, the federal government is not accountable to the people,” he wrote.
The report, he said, lays out a framework to address the problems identified, including cracking down on COVID fraud, simplifying disaster relief programs spread across more than 30 agencies, eliminating programs that waste taxpayer dollars without results, and advancing his Prevent Government Shutdowns Act.
“Washington’s dysfunction should not come at the expense of Americans,” the senator concluded.