FERC’s Willie Phillips Exits Early, Opening Door for Trump to Shift Commission Balance
Willie Phillips, a Democrat serving on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), has stepped down from his post, a move reportedly prompted by the Trump administration, according to The Hill.
Phillips told Politico that the White House communicated its preference for his departure, though he noted he had already intended to leave the commission.
His resignation comes nearly two years before the end of his five-year term, originally set to run through mid-2026. FERC Chair Mark Christie, a Republican, praised Phillips for his service and described him as a collaborative and respected colleague.
FERC is responsible for overseeing interstate energy infrastructure such as natural gas pipelines, electricity transmission lines, and LNG export terminals. The five-member commission is required by law to maintain a political balance, with no more than three members from one party. Phillips’s departure leaves the body evenly split between two Republicans and two Democrats, giving President Trump the chance to nominate a Republican and potentially shift the commission’s majority.
While the White House acknowledged Phillips’s resignation, it declined to say whether it directly requested his exit.
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