"Our energy science team is not in place," Ernest Moniz said.

"Our energy science team is not in place," Ernest Moniz said. Energy Department file photo

Energy Secretary: Senate Confirmation Delays Leave Science Team Shorthanded

Five key positions are unfilled, Moniz says.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz is irked about the large number of nominees for senior Energy Department roles that are languishing in the Senate.

"Our energy science team is not in place," Moniz said at a Washington, D.C. conference hosted by the American Energy Innovation Council. "We have five positions directly engaged in energy and science that are not filled."

He called the delays "extremely frustrating." The Senate has not confirmed nominees to be director of the Office of Science, head of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, and other roles.