The White House named Democrat David Rosner as chair of the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Aug. 14, following the departure of Republican Chairman Mark from FERC on Aug. 8.
Christie’s departure follows President Donald Trump’s decision, made earlier this year, not to reappoint him to another term (OGJ Online, Jun. 3, 2025). Rosner, who has been a commissioner at FERC since 2024, is a supporter of energy infrastructure.
Rosner’s appointment is likely short-lived. Trump is expected to elevate one of the two Republicans he recently nominated to the commission. Both Laura Swett, a former FERC advisor and Vinson & Elkins attorney, and David LaCerte, principal White House liaison and senior advisor to the director of the Office of Personnel Management, are currently awaiting Senate confirmation hearings (OGJ Online, July 18, 2025).
“I am honored to serve as Chairman and excited to continue working with my colleagues on the Commission and FERC’s extraordinary staff to enable reliable, affordable, and abundant energy for all Americans,” Rosner said in a statement.
Prior to his FERC service, Rosner worked as an energy industry analyst for the commission and spent 2 years on detail to the US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s Democratic staff under former Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who supported an energy infrastructure buildout.
Rosner was previously a senior policy advisor for the US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis and an associate director at the Bipartisan Policy Center’s energy project.
FERC operates with a maximum of 5 members. After Christie’s departure, the commission, which regulates interstate natural gas pipeline projects, LNG plants, and the power grid, has only 3 members.
In a statement, the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) congratulated Rosner on his appointment and urged the Senate to prioritize confirmation of two additional FERC commissioners.
FERC “functions best when it has a full complement of five commissioners to provide the regulatory certainty necessary for investment in America’s energy infrastructure,” INGAA President Amy Andryszak said.
