Trump White House Environmental Council Chair Exits for K Street
Katherine Scarlett, former Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, has joined the CGCN Group, a K Street consulting firm. She will advise clients, including those seeking to expedite data center permits, on federal permitting reform and environmental regulations. This move highlights ongoing efforts to streamline federal project approvals impacting the data center industry.
Katherine Scarlett, former Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) under President Donald Trump, has joined CGCN Group, a prominent K Street consulting firm. Scarlett played a key role in the Trump administration's efforts to accelerate federal permits for various projects and reduce environmental regulations, specifically those related to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). In her new role as a partner, she will leverage her expertise in legislative and regulatory consulting to assist clients, including those seeking to streamline permits for data centers and energy infrastructure, as confirmed by CGCN and Scarlett in an exclusive with Bloomberg Government.
CGCN Group's CEO Michael Catanzaro emphasized Scarlett's experience as the White House lead in negotiating current permitting reform legislation, noting that clients will heavily rely on her insights regarding the bill's progression. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), for whom Scarlett previously worked, lauded her as a crucial figure in permitting reform. While Democrats and environmental organizations have historically opposed the Trump administration's regulatory rollbacks, Senate negotiations on new permitting rules are presently ongoing. CGCN Group, which represents clients like Duke Energy Corp. and leads a data center-focused "American Energy + AI Coalition," saw significant growth in its federal lobbying revenue in 2025.