Democratic lawmakers warn budget cuts pose risks to power grids
Congressional Democrats are sounding the alarm on the impact of sweeping federal job cuts to the resilience of U.S. power grids.
As early as February, about 130 federal workers were fired from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which operates about three quarters of the Pacific Northwest’s power grid.
The following week, some 30 probationary workers were offered their jobs back, similarly to workers who were fired and recalled from jobs at the Department of Agriculture and the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA). But Democratic lawmakers expressed concern that even temporary disruptions in such cases could have an effect.
Another 88 employees have been fired from the Western Area Power Administration, which provides service to 15 states.
In an interview with The Hill, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) called the cuts at the BPA “another ready shoot, aim, disaster by this reckless Trump administration and the clown car group from DOGE,” referencing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. A DOGE spokesperson has denied the group was involved in the Department of Energy firings.
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By: Zack Budryk
Source: The Hill
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