Lutnick Picked to Lead Department of Commerce

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President-elect Trump announced that he would nominate Howard Lutnick to lead the Department of Commerce. Lutnick is a billionaire businessman and the CEO of the global financial services firms Cantor Fitzgerald and BCG Group. If confirmed, Lutnick will oversee two organizations on Project 2025's chopping block: the National Weather Service and NOAA.

Following is reaction from Andrew Wetzler, senior vice president for nature at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

"The Department of Commerce plays a critical role in protecting our oceans and ensuring climate resiliency. What kind of Secretary Howard will be is yet to be seen, but I hope he has the courage to stand up to President Trump's worst impulses and protect vital climate and oceans organizations like NOAA, which helps to protect everything from whale and dolphin populations, our national marine sanctuaries, and our fisheries."

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).