Trump administration quietly curbs key U.S. energy reports amid staff cuts

The Biden-era U.S. Annual Energy Outlook projected rising renewables and falling fossil fuel use, but the Trump administration suppressed its analysis and canceled the next global outlook report.

Peter Elkind reports for ProPublica.

In short:

• The Energy Information Administration (EIA), historically a trusted source of impartial U.S. energy data, has seen major staffing cuts and the suppression of analytical content from its flagship Annual Energy Outlook.
• The agency canceled the International Energy Outlook for 2025 due to staff shortages after over 100 employees left following buyouts, firings or resignations driven by the Department of Government Efficiency’s restructuring.
• Critics, including energy experts and former EIA staff, warn the changes undermine objective data crucial for industry leaders and policymakers to evaluate energy trends and policies.

Key quote:

"These are global markets. The only way to figure out which policies work or don’t is to have accurate EIA data. Everybody benefits from that analysis, whether you’re in the private sector or the public sector."

— Amy Myers Jaffe, energy consultant and research professor at New York University

Why this matters:

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has long provided accurate, nonpartisan data about energy production and consumption. This data informs decisions that affect fuel prices, renewable energy investments, climate policies, and energy security strategies. Without detailed reports like the Annual Energy Outlook and International Energy Outlook, policymakers and businesses must rely on less transparent or potentially biased sources. The suppression and scaling back of EIA reports come as global energy markets face volatility from shifting regulations, technological advances, and geopolitical tensions. Reliable data supports accurate understanding how these forces interact and what future energy scenarios may look like. Cuts to independent energy data also risk skewing public debate and policy, at a time when energy policy decisions have direct consequences for public health, climate resilience, and economic stability.

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