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A former senior Interior Ministry official violated ethics rules by holding shares in oil companies

According to a report by the agency's internal watchdog, Tommy Beaudreau, a former deputy secretary of the Interior, improperly held stock in ExxonMobil and Chevron while attending a meeting involving those companies.

Maxine Joselow reports for The Washington Post.

In summary:

  • Tommy Beaudreau violated federal ethics rules by failing to monitor his investments in ExxonMobil and Chevron.
  • His financial advisor bought the shares without his knowledge, but Beaudreau refused to sit out of a meeting.
  • Although he owned stocks, he participated in discussions about new safety regulations for oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico.

Key quote:

“Beaudreau attended a meeting about regulation affecting Exxon and Chevron despite having a financial interest in the companies.”

— Office of the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior

Why this is important:

Conflicts of interest, even unintentional ones, can damage public trust. The timing is particularly concerning as the U.S. grapples with the energy transition and the environmental risks of offshore drilling. If those responsible for regulating oil safety are financially entangled with the companies they oversee, can the public really believe that these policies are based on science and not profit? Read more: Public dissenters.

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