POLITICO Energy What the shutdown means for federal energy and climate agencies
Oct 21, 2025
Alex Guillén, an energy reporter for POLITICO, delves into the chaos caused by the ongoing government shutdown, revealing how federal climate and energy agencies are sidelined in unusual ways. He discusses the use of piecemeal furloughs, contrasting current operations with past shutdowns. Guillén highlights the uneven impact on staffing and operations, as well as the legal battle over reductions in force. The conversation also touches on a significant agreement between the U.S. and Australia to collaborate on critical minerals amid global supply chain concerns.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Unusual, Piecemeal Shutdown
- This shutdown is unfolding unusually, with agencies furloughing staff piecemeal instead of following full shutdown plans.
- The White House appears to protect programs it favors, like oil and gas permitting, while other work is paused.
Political Priorities Shape Staffing
- Agency choices about who stays working reflect political priorities, with oil and gas permitting staff kept active.
- That selective protection reveals how shutdown responses can shift agency focus toward favored programs.
Opaque Agency Responses
- Agencies have been opaque about furlough counts and funding sources, often issuing partisan boilerplate responses.
- Reporters must piece together impacts from multiple sources because official transparency is limited.