Bennet, Murray, Heinrich, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Restore Funding for Illegally Canceled and Politically Targeted Energy Projects

About About Michael Legislation News Press Releases Social Media Newsletter Archive Services Priorities Top Issues Child Tax Credit Investing in Colorado Contact Map Español Acerca de Michael Escribe a Michael Prioridades Servicios Visitando D.C. Bennet, Murray, Heinrich, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Restore Funding for Illegally Canceled and Politically Targeted Energy Projects Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, ranking member of the Finance subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure, joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, to lead 36 senate colleagues in […] Aug 4, 2026 | Press Releases Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, ranking member of the Finance subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure, joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, to lead 36 senate colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump Administration restore funding for the 223 energy projects canceled in October 2025. The Trump Administration has since admitted to illegally canceling energy grants because those projects were in states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election. “Now that court documents have confirmed what we knew to be true, we write to demand that you restore previously awarded funding that the Trump Administration has weaponized in an attempt to punish perceived political enemies,” wrote the senators. “Once an administration begins punishing Americans for how they vote, the threat extends far beyond these projects: no state, community, business, or worker can trust that the federal government will apply the law fairly. This is not only an attack on jobs, affordable energy, and America’s economic competitiveness. It is an attack on the rule of law and the basic democratic principle that the federal government serves the entire country—not merely those who support the President,” continued the senators. “At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, the administration is hell-bent on political retribution instead of working to bring down costs for millions of Americans. The American people deserve to have a government that works for them—not one that is willing to push energy prices even higher and put the country’s energy security at grave risk. For the good of our country, the rule of law, and the American people, we demand that you change course and restore the previously awarded funding,” concluded the senators. Bennet has continuously fought to protect funding for Colorado’s energy projects and condemned partisan project reversals under the Trump Administration. In July 2026, Bennet joined Murray, Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and the entire Senate Democratic caucus in demanding that Director Vought immediately rescind the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed power grab over federal grants and awards. In May 2026, Bennet joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Schumer, and 18 of his Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to protect public scientific research and reports from the influence of political and special interests. In October 2025, Bennet issued a statement following the Trump Administration’s targeted cancellation of billions of dollars in funding for energy projects across the country. That same week, Bennet led the Democratic Colorado Delegation in demanding answers from Secretary Wright on the Department of Energy’s abrupt cancellation of $7.56 billion in energy project funding, including over $600 million in funding for 38 Colorado-affiliated projects. Additionally, Bennet joined Murray, Heinrich, and 34 Senate colleagues in sending a letter demanding that Secretary Wright and Director Vought restore funding for all 223 energy projects in Democrat-led states that were unlawfully canceled. In November 2025, Bennet also demanded answers from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on the Department’s recent order requiring Secretary Burgum’s personal approval for routine wind and solar energy project permitting decisions. In addition to Bennet, Murray, and Heinrich, U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif,), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jacky R