Big Oil’s revolving door is spinning fast in Washington. Brittany Kelm, a senior White House energy adviser, left the administration for Sable Offshore after helping advance efforts tied to the company’s California oil restart. Kelm previously spent years in the oil industry, including at Shell. Ethics experts have questioned the proximity between her government role and her new employer relationship.
Personal Remarks
This is the tip of the iceberg. Big Oil has been shaping and funding political power for more than a century. A certain level of lobbying is normal: governments need industry expertise, and companies will naturally defend their interests. But sometimes it goes too far. We should guarantee the integrity and independence of politicians, while keeping dogma and excessive ideological influence out of political decision-making.