President Trump on Thursday announced a new nominee to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to fill the seat of a previous Democratic commissioner who stepped down at the White House’s request.
Trump nominated David LaCerte, whose LinkedIn lists him as an official with the White House Office of Personnel Management, to the commission. The FERC regulates interstate energy transmission, including electricity and pipelines.
LaCerte is also listed as a contributor to Project 2025, a controversial conservative plan for how to run the government under a GOP president such as Trump.
The FERC is an independent agency made up of five commissioners who serve fixed terms. It can have no more than three commissioners of the same political party.
It had a 3-2 Democratic majority. However, Commissioner Willie Phillips stepped down in April, saying, “I heard from the White House, and they expressed their interest that I step aside.”
If confirmed, LaCerte would be expected to swing the commission to a Republican majority.
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