The Senate overwhelmingly approved Mark Menezes as deputy secretary of energy on Tuesday, despite opposition from some nuke-wary Democrats.
The 79-16 vote elevates the current undersecretary of energy to the No. 2 position at the nuclear weapons, waste, and energy agency, though Menezes’ swearing-in had not been announced at deadline Wednesday.
All but two of the “no” votes were Democrats, including Nevada Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, who are steadfastly opposed to licensing Yucca Mountain or any other site in their state as a nuclear-waste repository, and seldom support any person or policy that does not share the sentiment.
Cortez Masto was the only member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to vote in June against sending Menezes’ nomination to a floor vote. There, she focused her concerns on reports that the Trump administration was considering resuming explosive tests of nuclear weapons. The Nevada Test Site (now called the Nevada National Security Site) was used for atmospheric and underground testing for decades until 1992, when the United States voluntarily suspended those operations.
Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) were the sole Republicans to vote against Menezes’ confirmation. Five senators did not vote.
A DOE spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment about when Menezes might be sworn in as Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette’s deputy. Brouillette, himself a former deputy secretary, called the role the Department of Energy’s chief operating officer.
President Donald Trump in March nominated Menezes as DOE deputy. He has served as undersecretary of energy since November 2017. In that role he is the department’s lead adviser on energy policy and energy technologies. His previous experience included a three-year stint, from 2003 to 2006, as chief counsel for energy and environment at the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
