Staff Reports
A senior official at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) might just be the poster child for hypocrisy, as he spearheads the White House’s green aircraft initiative while holding an oil well in Wyoming. Michael Whitaker, the FAA administrator, recently made headlines not only for his green agenda but also for his oily side hustle, which has somehow escaped the ire of the environmentalists who claim to care about fossil fuels.
Whitaker disclosed that he owns an oil well in Uinta County, Wyoming, leasing it to none other than Hilcorp Energy—America’s largest privately owned oil company. Despite tightening various fuel efficiency standards for commercial airplanes, he seems to be cashing in on fossil fuels with reported royalties of $5,000 a year. It seems a bit rich that a man pushing for stringent aviation regulations is living a dual life as an oil baron wannabe. This certainly raises eyebrows about the credibility of his eco-friendly crusade.
Biden Admin Official Spurring Green Airplane Initiative Owns An Oil Well https://t.co/9VDryoNqLp pic.twitter.com/fjbtgOF02n
— Daily Caller Tech (@thedctechnews) August 28, 2024
In a giddy February press release, Whitaker announced the FAA’s ambitious plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, promising more fuel-efficient airplanes that may send some environmentally conscious aviation fans into a swoon. Amidst this grandstanding, everyday Americans are left to wonder why they should be footed with the financial burden of “green” initiatives when those at the top seem to thrive on the very fuels they denounce. Between pricey gas and escalating airfare, it’s hard to discern how this benefits the average Joe.
Adding to the irony, environmental groups that have rallied against Hilcorp for its so-called emissions “sins” have cozy ties to the Biden administration. Ceres and the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) have publicly criticized Hilcorp’s emissions profile while regularly meeting with administration officials. John Thompson from CATF and Ceres CEO Mindy Lubber have both forged partnerships with the White House, leading many to question if this revolving door of policy amidst corporate ties is truly about the planet or more a case of political posturing.
Despite the rampant hypocrisy, neither the FAA nor Hilcorp has hastened to comment on this inconsistency, leaving folks to stew in self-reflection about the elite’s mirthful jet-setting lifestyle funded by the very oil they consistently vilify. As ordinary Americans grapple with rising costs and the inconveniences of mandated eco-friendly measures, one can only chuckle (or mourn) at the spectacle of high-ranking bureaucrats proclaiming virtue while cashing in on the very profits of the fossil fuel industry they’re supposed to be fighting against. Welcome to modern-day governance—where the elitist playbook seems to be “Do as I say, not as I do.”
