Business meeting to consider the nominations of Sean McMaster, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, John Busterud, of California, to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste, Environmental Protection Agency, and Adam Telle, of Mississippi, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army, Department of Defense.

Committee on Environment and Public Works

2025-06-11

Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This meeting of the committee convened to consider and vote on three presidential nominations: Sean McMaster for Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), John Busterud for Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Adam Tell for Assistant Secretary for the Army for Civil Works [ 00:23:49-00:23:58 ] . The Chair, Shelley Moore Capito, expressed confidence in the nominees' qualifications and urged support [ 00:25:09-00:25:28 ]

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. Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse and Senator Alejandro Padilla voiced both support and strong opposition, with particular concerns regarding environmental policy and agency actions impacting states .

Themes

Nominee Approvals and Criticisms

The committee successfully reported all three nominees favorably after roll call votes [ 00:30:00 ]

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. Chair Capito supported all nominations, highlighting their extensive public and private sector experience [ 00:24:03-00:25:06 ] . Senator Whitehouse supported Adam Tell and Sean McMaster, though his support for McMaster was conditional on the release of critical guidance for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program . However, Senator Whitehouse strongly opposed John Busterud, citing the EPA's alleged "polluter-driven assault on clean air" and describing the agency as a "swamp of corruption" . Senator Padilla voted against all three nominees, attributing his opposition to issues with their respective agencies' actions towards California .

Environmental Policy and Methane Emissions

A significant portion of the discussion focused on environmental policy, particularly methane emissions and the EPA's conduct . Senator Whitehouse criticized the EPA for allegedly blockading authorized funding and becoming a "polluter protection agency" . He also condemned a Republican reconciliation bill that proposed repealing EPA emission standards, expediting permitting, and suspending methane fees, calling the industry's behavior "dishonorable" . Whitehouse issued a stern warning to the fossil fuel industry, stating that their actions on methane emissions would be publicly exposed and lead to future "reckoning" . Senator Curtis briefly associated himself with Whitehouse's comments on methane, offering to collaborate on addressing methane leaks from wells .

California-Specific Concerns

Senator Padilla raised specific concerns regarding federal agencies' treatment of California . He opposed Adam Tell's nomination because the Army Corps had allegedly "zeroed out" funding for critical flood control projects in California, despite congressional authorization . For Sean McMaster, Padilla cited the Department of Transportation's "unlawfully frozen funding" for electric vehicle infrastructure and a "sham investigation" into California's high-speed rail project . Senator Padilla announced a "blanket hold" on all EPA nominees due to the agency's alleged abuse of the Congressional Review Act to undermine California's Clean Air Authority . He demanded accountability from Administrator Zeldin for changing the EPA's long-standing legal position on these waivers .

Tone of the Meeting

The meeting began with a formal and procedural tone, focused on the necessary steps for considering the nominations [ 00:22:56-00:23:43 ] . While Chair Capito maintained a supportive and professional demeanor toward the nominees, the tone quickly shifted as Senator Whitehouse delivered a highly critical and passionate statement regarding the EPA and fossil fuel industry [ 00:25:09-00:25:28 ]

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. Senator Padilla's remarks further amplified this contentious atmosphere, as he expressed deep disappointment and firm opposition to the nominees based on specific, adverse impacts on California . A brief, lighthearted interjection from Senator Curtis about his grandson provided a momentary respite before the concluding procedural remarks [ 00:33:47 ]

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. Overall, the tone was a mix of routine legislative process, strong partisan criticism, and firm declarations of dissent and accountability .

Participants

Transcript

Thank you.
almost in full attendance here but while we're waiting I'm going to go ahead and give my opening statement and Senator Whitehouse will do the same.  That's what they all came here for.  That's what they all came here for.  Standing room only.  So and this should go very quickly once we get our full compliment.  So good morning to everybody and I note the presence of a quorum and now call this business meeting to order.  For the information of the members of the committee, ranking member Whitehouse and I will deliver our opening statements as I said   And then when we get sufficient attendance, we'll turn to the vote.  After the votes, members who wish to be recognized to speak on the nominations are encouraged to do so.  So I want to thank my colleagues for attending today and to vote on the nominations of Sean McMasker to be the administrator of the FHWA, John Busterud to be the assistant administrator of the EPA,   and Adam Tell to be the Assistant Secretary for the Army for Civil Works.  Sean McMaster has more than 10 years of government service working in the U.S.  House of Representatives and in federal agencies including the U.S.  Department of Transportation.  For the last five years, Mr. McMaster has worked for the private sector in two private sector transportation companies.  Mr. McMaster's relevant professional background both in the public and private sectors   I believe, especially well suited to be the administrator of the Federal Highways Administration.  John Buster Rood practiced environmental law for 31 years and previously served as the regional administrator for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region.  Mr. Buster Rood also served our country with distinction for 23 years in the U.S.  Army.  Mr. Buster Rood's exceptional experience has prepared him to lead OLEM and to tackle some of the nation's most pressing environmental challenges.   Adam Tell has two decades of public service in the United States Senate, including as my clerk on the Homeland Security Subcommittee and Appropriations, and also as a special assistant to the President in the first Trump administration.
Mr. Tell has seen firsthand how the Army Corps' response to natural disasters can help communities withstand significant weather events and then recover from them.  Mr. Tell's extensive experience and understanding of the issues facing the Army Corps of Engineers making him an excellent choice   to lead the Civil Works program.  At their recent nomination hearings, we heard the nominees' visions for their respective roles that they have been nominated for, and we learned about their professional experience that has shaped their qualifications for these roles.  I'm confident that these nominees will focus their efforts to bringing their respective agencies back to achieving their core missions and faithfully following the laws that Congress has enacted as they carry on their duties.   So I urge my colleagues to support these nominees.  And with that, I recognize the Ranking Member Whitehouse for his opening statement.
Thank you, Chair Capito.  I will vote in favor of Adam Tellett to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works over his 20-year career.  He's demonstrated admirable commitment to public service.  His testimony and his experience securing resources for disaster response and recovery suggest that he appreciates the dire consequences that natural disasters wreak.   on red and blue states alike.  I hope Mr. Teller will carry this lesson forward and ensure that the Corps executes its mission objectively and without political bias.  I will also support Sean McMaster to lead the Federal Highways Administration.  First off, I appreciate DOT moving expeditiously to obligate funds to hundreds of previously awarded discretionary grants.  As I've said, I don't think the grants ever should have been paused or frozen.   But on the other hand, the previous administration should also not have left thousands of awarded but unobligated grants.  One unresolved item is the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program created in our bipartisan infrastructure bill, which remains frozen.  DOT has assured my staff that draft guidance for NEVI will be released in two weeks.   Based on this assurance, I will vote in favor of Mr. McMaster's nomination, but that support and committee will evaporate on the floor if the draft guidance doesn't appear or is unworkable for states.  I am trusting at this point.  Progress like this is key to Democratic support for a highway bill next year, so I'm doubly happy to see steps going in the right direction.  Lastly, on John Busterud, I will vote no.   When we heard from these nominees on May 14th, I warned that EPA was a mess.  It remains a mess.  Administrator Zeldin continues his brazen, polluter-driven assault on clean air, clean water,   and a safe climate.

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