Louisiana Voice

Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement:

“The reckless DOGE chainsaw cuts from the Trump/Musk administration are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet — they are a clear and present danger to the people, economy, and environment of Louisiana.

“The ongoing oil spill off Louisiana’s Gulf Coast is rapidly contaminating our marshlands, threatening vital wildlife habitats, and endangering the fisheries that so many Louisiana families depend on. Yet at this critical moment, the federal teams we rely on for rapid response — like NOAA’s Emergency Response Division — have been gutted. Over 1,000 NOAA staff have been laid off or forced into early retirement, including eight from the very unit tasked with addressing oil and chemical spills. We are watching decades of expertise — innumerable years collectively — walk out the door.

“As oil shoots 30 to 40 feet into the air from a well that should have been permanently sealed years ago, we are left scrambling to contain a disaster with fewer people, fewer resources, and fewer answers. This week marks 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon tragedy, and yet here we stand, once again, dangerously unprepared.

“As a Member of Congress representing Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District and a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will explore every avenue to expose and reverse these short-sighted, penny-wise, pound-foolish policies. We owe it to our communities, our environment, and our future generations to safeguard Louisiana’s coast — before it’s too late.”