This week, the Biden administration's Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), in conjunction with several federal agencies, withdrew a proposed rule that would have required federal contractors to report their greenhouse gas emissions to a foreign-based nonprofit. The Department of Defense, National Aeronautics Administration, General Services Administration, and Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council were involved in the decision.
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman expressed concerns about the proposal. He stated: "It’s deeply concerning that the Biden administration allowed such an problematic rule to advance this far in the approval process. Members of the Natural Resources Committee raised alarms, exercising our oversight powers and refusing to allow dangerous rule to move forward at the expense of American economic and national security."
The proposed regulation titled "Federal Acquisition Regulation: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk" was intended to make federal contractors register their emissions with a UK-based nonprofit. Critics pointed out that this process could be expensive for small businesses and noted that the nonprofit was selected without competitive bidding. Security concerns also arose due to its foreign base.
Westerman commented on these issues: "The rule was misguided from its inception. I look forward to the return of common sense in the White House that will occur on Inauguration Day."
The House Committee on Natural Resources had previously voiced opposition, highlighting potential negative impacts on those working with federal entities, especially within national security sectors.
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