Chris Wright resigns from boards ahead of conflict of interest concerns
- Chris Wright is on the board of Oklo, a nuclear energy company that has received federal grants.
- To mitigate conflict of interest concerns, Wright will resign from all companies he is associated with upon confirmation.
- This step is part of a broader effort to maintain ethical conduct in the Trump administration.
In the United States, Chris Wright, who is nominated for the position of Energy Secretary, will resign from his board role at Oklo, a nuclear energy company, to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Wright, who is the CEO of Liberty Energy, has faced scrutiny for being on the board of a company that has received significant federal grants totaling $2.7 million from the Energy Department for the years 2022 through 2026. As part of the guidelines for federal nominees, preventing any conflicts of interest before Senate confirmation is crucial. His upcoming resignation highlights the emphasis placed by the Trump transition team on maintaining ethical standards within government roles, especially given the history of ethical scrutiny surrounding previous appointees. Federal laws require nominees to disclose financial ties to outside entities, fostering transparency and public trust. The resignation decision also reflects a broader trend of nominees needing to step away from private sector roles to ensure compliance with government ethics and reinforce public confidence in their commitments to public service.