Willie Phillips, a Democratic member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), has stepped down — apparently at the behest of the White House.
Phillips told Politico the Trump administration had asked him to step down.
“I heard from the White House, and they expressed their interest that I step aside,” he told the news outlet. “It’s something that’s not a surprise to me. In fact, I had already planned to do so.”
Mark Christie, the Republican who chairs the commission, announced in a statement that Phillips was leaving the FERC, which operates somewhat independently from the administration.
“Willie has been a good friend for whom I have tremendous respect and affection. He is a dedicated and selfless public servant,” Christie said in a statement. “He and I worked together on many contentious issues to find common ground and get things done to serve the public interest.“
“We will miss him here at FERC. I wish him and his family the very best for future success – and I am confident he will continue to be successful in whatever career path he chooses,” he added.
The FERC is an agency that regulates cross-state energy pipelines and power lines as well as gas export terminals. The commission has up to five members, and no more than three of them can belong to the same party.
The commission’s members are nominated by the president and confirmed for five-year terms. Phillips’s term was expected to last until mid-2026.
Prior to his departure, the commission had three Democrats and two Republicans. Now that Phillips is gone, the commission is split 2-2, and President Trump can nominate a Republican to fill the vacancy.
A White House spokesperson confirmed Phillips’s departure, but the White House did not comment on whether it asked him to leave.