Heinrich Demands DOE Preserve All Documents and Records Regarding the Illegal Cancellation of Energy Project Grants in Democratic-Led States

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright demanding the Department preserve all documents and records of the Trump administration's cancellation of more than $7.5 billion of energy project grants in Democratic-led states.

"I write to demand that you preserve all records and communications related to the administration's cancellation of more than $7.5 billion of energy project grants," Heinrich began.

"Following reports that the Trump administration acknowledged in court filings that it terminated more than $7.5 billion of energy grants due to political motivations, I wrote to you along with 38 senators demanding the administration restore funding to those projects that were illegally canceled," Heinrich continued. "Today, I write to request that you preserve all documents, communications, and records related to the termination of those energy projects. As you know, under the law, you are required to comply with records preservation requirements."

In his letter, Heinrich demands that the DOE preserve all forms of communications (including, but not limited to, e-mails, electronic documents, and data) since January 20, 2025, related to the termination of the above-mentioned energy projects. The letter also requests that all former DOE employees who may have access to such records are immediately identified and notified.

Heinrich is leading the effort to secure accountability and transparency into DOE's illegal cancellation of energy project grants. Last week, following the Trump administration's admission that it canceled projects in states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election, Heinrich led 38 Senators in demanding that funding be restored.

In October 2025, following the news that the Trump administration illegally canceled clean energy project grants, Heinrich led 36 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to DOE Secretary Chris Wright and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, demanding that they restore the projects' funding.

Read the full text of the letter here and below:

Secretary Wright:

I write to demand that you preserve all records and communications related to the administration's cancellation of more than $7.5 billion of energy project grants.

Following reports that the Trump administration acknowledged in court filings that it terminated more than $7.5 billion of energy grants due to political motivations, I wrote to you along with 38 senators demanding the administration restore funding to those projects that were illegally canceled. Today, I write to request that you preserve all documents, communications, and records related to the termination of those energy projects. As you know, under the law, you are required to comply with records preservation requirements.

To ensure that the records are produced to the Committee in potential future document requests without undue delay, I request that you do the following immediately:

1. Preserve all records and communications, not limited to e-mail, electronic documents, and data, created since January 20, 2025, related to the termination of the above-mentioned energy projects; and
2. Identify and immediately notify any former employees, including contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and any other individuals or entities who may have access to such records. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this request.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this request.

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