In the wake of the Jan. 6 riot and takeover of the U.S. Capitol Building, and the public rancor which preceded it, several companies doing business in the Department of Energy weapons complex are reconsidering their approach to political donations.
For example, Leidos Chairman and CEO Roger Krone announced Tuesday his company’s political action committee (PAC) has decided to temporarily pause all political donations.
“It’s time to unite as one nation, promoting decency, understanding and a commitment to the common good,” said Krone, whose Reston, Va.-based company leads the joint venture in charge of site services at the Hanford Site in Washington state.
“Like all Americans, we are shocked and appalled by the behavior that took place on Capitol Hill last week,” Krone said, echoing comments made by several major companies following the Capitol siege. “Democracy thrives on passionate debate and different opinions but dies in anarchy and violence.”
Likewise, Jacobs announced it is suspending all political donations. “The disturbing events at the U.S. Capitol put our elected leaders at risk and undermined the fundamental democratic principles of free speech, peaceful protest, and open and free elections,” said CEO Steve Demetriou.
Weapons Complex Monitor this week emailed inquiries about political giving to several of the larger companies doing business for the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management: Amentum, Atkins, Centerra, Fluor, Honeywell, Parsons and SOC did not respond. Those that did respond pointedly condemned the violence in the U.S. Capitol.
Generally, corporations and labor unions cannot contribute directly to federal candidates but can set up PACs, known as “separate segregated funds” under Federal Election Commission rules. Such PACs can solicit contributions from a limited number of people in order to financially support candidates of their choice.
Two of the companies that responded to the inquiry noted the January following a November election tends to be a lull period for PAC activity anyway.
The employee-run political action committee for Bechtel, which is building the Waste Treatment Plant at Hanford, is setting its contribution plan for the 2021-2022 election cycle. “The review will include a case-by-case assessment of the behavior and actions of individual Members of Congress, keeping in mind our company values,” said Bechtel spokesman Fred deSousa in an email this week.
The employee PAC for BWX Technologies has long backed candidates “on both sides of the aisle,” said company spokesman Jud Simmons via email. BWXT is a partner in several DOE and National Nuclear Security Administration contracts. Simmons said the company looks forward to working with the 117th Congress and the incoming Joe Biden administration on policy.
The employee PAC for Huntington Ingalls Industries is “currently paused” while reviewing any budget and any governance changes that might be implemented for the 2021-2022 election cycle.
The siege occurred Jan. 6 after President Donald Trump addressed thousands of people who attended a rally in Washington, D.C. denying the validity of the victory of President-elect Joe Biden in the November election, despite the results having been certified by states and upheld by courts including the U.S. Supreme Court.
“And we fight,” Trump went on to say toward the end of the hour-long speech. “We fight like Hell and if you don’t fight like Hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” He concluded by saying everyone was going to the Capitol building and give “weak” Republicans “the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country.”
Subsequently, a large crowd stormed the Capitol building, prompting the relocation of members of the Senate and House of Representatives to an undisclosed location mid-afternoon before they could finish recertifying the vote. But after the building was cleared of rioters, both chambers resumed their certification and affirmed the election hours later.
Some publicly-traded companies have announced they will stop making contributions to members of congress – eight senators and more than 100 members of the House who objected to certifying the national election. The certification of the election is typically a check-off duty which amounts to little more than a rubber stamp, according to national media reports.
Members of the House near DOE nuclear cleanup sites who voted against Biden’s certification included Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif./Santa Susana Field Laboratory), Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga./Savannah River Site), Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C., Savannah River), Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn., Oak Ridge), Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M., Waste Isolation Pilot Plant).
