SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
President Trump's Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent as they address the media in the press room at the White House in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 2025. (Photo: John McDonnell/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Trump White House Staffers Own Up to $2.2 Million in Big Oil Stock: Watchdog
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington reviewed financial disclosure forms of White House staffers and discovered that 17 of them own stocks in assorted fossil fuel giants.
Jul 23, 2025
A new report from a government watchdog details how more than a dozen Trump White House staffers collectively own millions of dollars worth of stock in major oil companies.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) reviewed financial disclosure forms of White House staffers and discovered that 17 of them own stocks in BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Shell, TotalEnergies, or Valero Energy.
The values of individual staffers' stock holdings range from $820,036 up to $2,250,000, and the staffers collectively hold up to $845,000 worth of Chevron shares, $505,000 worth of ExxonMobil shares, and $300,000 in Marathon shares.
"The 17 aides invested in Big Oil companies work across the White House from communications staffers like Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Presidential Speechwriter Samuel Mangold-Lenett to policy staffers like Special Assistants to the President for Political Affairs Ashley Walukevich and Christopher Escobedo and Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Kara Frederick," writes CREW. "Other notable holders include economic policy staffers, deputy counsels to the president, and a legislative staffer."
As CREW notes, the oil and gas industry spent an estimated $75 million last year to boost Trump's campaign and his administration has rewarded these companies by taking a hatchet to multiple environmental regulations and renewable energy initiatives. Trump earlier this month signed a Republican-passed budget bill that rolled back green energy tax credits that had been enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Democrats and signed into law by former President Joe Biden in 2022.
In addition to ending the tax credits, the administration has been shutting down projects aimed at building out America's green energy infrastructure. On Wednesday, for instance, the U.S. Department of Energy terminated loan guarantees for the Grain Belt Express, a high-voltage direct current transmission line that was being built to link wind and solar capacity throughout Kansas and Missouri.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
citizens for responsibility and ethics in washingtonclimate emergencydonald trumpkaroline leavittrenewable energybig oil
A new report from a government watchdog details how more than a dozen Trump White House staffers collectively own millions of dollars worth of stock in major oil companies.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) reviewed financial disclosure forms of White House staffers and discovered that 17 of them own stocks in BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Shell, TotalEnergies, or Valero Energy.
The values of individual staffers' stock holdings range from $820,036 up to $2,250,000, and the staffers collectively hold up to $845,000 worth of Chevron shares, $505,000 worth of ExxonMobil shares, and $300,000 in Marathon shares.
"The 17 aides invested in Big Oil companies work across the White House from communications staffers like Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Presidential Speechwriter Samuel Mangold-Lenett to policy staffers like Special Assistants to the President for Political Affairs Ashley Walukevich and Christopher Escobedo and Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Kara Frederick," writes CREW. "Other notable holders include economic policy staffers, deputy counsels to the president, and a legislative staffer."
As CREW notes, the oil and gas industry spent an estimated $75 million last year to boost Trump's campaign and his administration has rewarded these companies by taking a hatchet to multiple environmental regulations and renewable energy initiatives. Trump earlier this month signed a Republican-passed budget bill that rolled back green energy tax credits that had been enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Democrats and signed into law by former President Joe Biden in 2022.
In addition to ending the tax credits, the administration has been shutting down projects aimed at building out America's green energy infrastructure. On Wednesday, for instance, the U.S. Department of Energy terminated loan guarantees for the Grain Belt Express, a high-voltage direct current transmission line that was being built to link wind and solar capacity throughout Kansas and Missouri.
From Your Site Articles
- President Harris Is the Perfect Person to Prosecute the Case Against Big Oil ›
- Climate Movement Sounds Alarm on Trump Picking 'Big Oil Sellout' JD Vance for VP ›
- Trump’s Cabinet of Planet-Wreckers Are Destroying What They’ve Sworn to Protect ›
Related Articles Around the Web
A new report from a government watchdog details how more than a dozen Trump White House staffers collectively own millions of dollars worth of stock in major oil companies.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) reviewed financial disclosure forms of White House staffers and discovered that 17 of them own stocks in BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Shell, TotalEnergies, or Valero Energy.
The values of individual staffers' stock holdings range from $820,036 up to $2,250,000, and the staffers collectively hold up to $845,000 worth of Chevron shares, $505,000 worth of ExxonMobil shares, and $300,000 in Marathon shares.
"The 17 aides invested in Big Oil companies work across the White House from communications staffers like Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Presidential Speechwriter Samuel Mangold-Lenett to policy staffers like Special Assistants to the President for Political Affairs Ashley Walukevich and Christopher Escobedo and Senior Policy Advisor to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Kara Frederick," writes CREW. "Other notable holders include economic policy staffers, deputy counsels to the president, and a legislative staffer."
As CREW notes, the oil and gas industry spent an estimated $75 million last year to boost Trump's campaign and his administration has rewarded these companies by taking a hatchet to multiple environmental regulations and renewable energy initiatives. Trump earlier this month signed a Republican-passed budget bill that rolled back green energy tax credits that had been enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Democrats and signed into law by former President Joe Biden in 2022.
In addition to ending the tax credits, the administration has been shutting down projects aimed at building out America's green energy infrastructure. On Wednesday, for instance, the U.S. Department of Energy terminated loan guarantees for the Grain Belt Express, a high-voltage direct current transmission line that was being built to link wind and solar capacity throughout Kansas and Missouri.
From Your Site Articles
- President Harris Is the Perfect Person to Prosecute the Case Against Big Oil ›
- Climate Movement Sounds Alarm on Trump Picking 'Big Oil Sellout' JD Vance for VP ›
- Trump’s Cabinet of Planet-Wreckers Are Destroying What They’ve Sworn to Protect ›
Related Articles Around the Web
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.