Heres what a Texas oil executive from DOGE is doing inside the Interior Department

Published: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 4:24 pm

Texas Oil Exec's Role in Interior Department Sparks Ethics Concerns

A Texas oil executive, Tyler Hassen, with ties to Elon Musk's government efficiency team (DOGE), has been granted significant authority to overhaul the U.S. Department of the Interior, raising serious ethical questions. Despite his sweeping powers over resource-rich public lands, records indicate Hassen has not divested his energy investments or filed an ethics commitment to avoid conflicts of interest.

Hassen, who lacks Senate confirmation and public administration experience, was appointed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reorganize the department, which oversees 70,000 employees across 11 agencies, including the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. Before joining DOGE, Hassen spent nearly two decades as an executive at Basin Holdings, a company involved in oil rig manufacturing, sales, and servicing. Financial disclosures reveal he made millions annually from these companies, owned by John Fitzgibbons, who has connections in Russia.

These potential conflicts of interest have sparked concerns from Democratic lawmakers, conservation groups, and environmental advocates. They argue that Hassen's appointment appears designed to bypass Senate oversight and test the limits of congressional authority. Critics point to his efforts to increase fossil fuel production, extend a freeze on regulations, and his attempt to fire a top department lawyer who refused access to a sensitive personnel database. Hassen's financial disclosures also reveal holdings in various energy-related companies, including a cryptocurrency mining business and a security company.

The situation has prompted calls for scrutiny from lawmakers, including Senators Jeff Merkley and Martin Heinrich, who have expressed concerns about the legality and ethics of Hassen's role. The Interior Department has not directly addressed the specific concerns raised about Hassen's potential conflicts of interest.

Keywords: Tyler Hassen, Interior Department, Doug Burgum, DOGE, Elon Musk, oil executive, ethics, conflict of interest, Senate confirmation, Bureau of Land Management, fossil fuels, regulations, John Fitzgibbons, Basin Holdings, environmental concerns, government oversight, energy investments, public lands, financial disclosure, Russia, Kate Groetzinger, Kathleen Clark, Jacob Malcom, Jeff Merkley, Chellie Pingree, Martin Heinrich

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