Trump to Nominate Democrat David Rosner as FERC Chair in Unlikely Move

President Trump will appoint Democrat David Rosner as FERC chair, an unexpected move that could shift U.S. energy policy priorities. The nomination comes as the White House seeks greater control over the commission and advances its America First agenda.

(P&GJ) — President Donald Trump will appoint Democrat David Rosner to lead the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), a White House official confirmed to Axios on Aug. 8 (Axios). The choice is notable because Rosner, a Biden appointee, previously served as an aide to Sen. Joe Manchin and joined the commission in 2024.

The White House said Rosner has pledged to advance Trump’s “America First” energy agenda, highlighting his role in speeding up the development of power infrastructure and data centers to strengthen the U.S. position in artificial intelligence.

Rosner is viewed as a centrist who supports natural gas expansion, a stance that has drawn criticism from environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth, which accused him of favoring fossil fuels, Axios reported.

His appointment follows the resignation of Republican Chair Mark Christie, who had resisted proposed budget cuts to the commission. The decision also underscores the Trump administration’s growing influence over independent agencies, according to Axios.

However, Rosner’s tenure as chair could be brief. The administration is pushing for Senate confirmation of two Republican nominees, Laura Swett and David LaCerte, which would shift the commission’s balance of power from its current 2-1 Democratic majority. Once confirmed, either Republican could be appointed chair.