August 7, 2025

Biden administration used energy program for voter registration

The Biden administration turned a taxpayer-funded energy program into a voter registration drive, raising eyebrows and questions about election integrity.

The Daily Caller reported that the Biden administration leveraged the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program to push voter registration before the 2022 midterms through a campaign dubbed “Get Energized To Vote.”

Established in 1976 under President Carter, the Weatherization Assistance Program was designed to help low-income households—those at or below 200% of the poverty line—cut energy costs.

The program’s mission was straightforward: insulate homes, upgrade heating systems, and reduce utility bills for the needy. Tacking on voter registration efforts feels like a plot twist nobody saw coming.

Biden’s Executive Order Sparks Action

In March 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order mandating federal agencies to promote voter registration. The Department of Energy, not typically a player in election matters, jumped on board with enthusiasm. This directive set the stage for the controversial “Get Energized To Vote” campaign.

The Department of Energy targeted roughly 35,000 households enrolled in the Weatherization Assistance Program, directing them to voting information resources.

A September 2021 memorandum revealed the department’s ambition to boost turnout among first-time voters, college students, disabled individuals, and those with limited English proficiency. It’s a noble goal on paper, but critics argue it’s a slippery slope to politicizing federal aid.

The memorandum, sent to Biden’s Domestic Policy Chief Susan Rice, stated the department aimed to aid in “increasing turnout and reducing barriers” for disabled voters.

That sounds altruistic, but when federal agencies start moonlighting as voter outreach teams, it’s hard not to wonder about their true motives. Mixing energy assistance with electioneering feels like a recipe for mistrust.

Congressional Republicans, including Rep. Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, didn’t mince words in their criticism. Steil declared that allowing federal employees to “flood election administration sites threatens election integrity and reduces Americans’ confidence.” His point hits hard: when bureaucrats play campaign staff, public trust in fair elections takes a nosedive.

Several attorneys general echoed Steil’s concerns, accusing the Biden administration of transforming the federal bureaucracy into a voter registration machine.

Federal law explicitly prohibits agencies from encouraging partisan voting, yet the line between outreach and overreach seemed blurry here. It’s a classic case of good intentions—or were they?—paving a questionable path.

The “Get Energized To Vote” campaign specifically targeted low-income households, a demographic historically seen as leaning Democratic in elections like 2016 and 2020. Critics argue this focus raises red flags about partisan intent, even if cloaked in neutral language. If the goal was truly nonpartisan, why not cast a wider net?

Trump Reverses the Course

In March 2025, President Donald Trump rescinded Biden’s executive order, effectively pulling the plug on the voter registration push.

This move was a clear signal that the new administration viewed the initiative as a step too far. It’s a decision that resonates with those who prioritize clear boundaries between federal programs and electoral politics.

The Weatherization Assistance Program wasn’t the only federal effort caught in the controversy. The United States Department of Agriculture also got in on the voter turnout game, partnering with a left-leaning policy group to amplify its efforts. When multiple agencies start playing the same tune, it’s no wonder skeptics hear a partisan melody.

Historically, higher voter turnout was thought to favor Democratic candidates, a belief rooted in election analyses from 2016 and 2020.

Yet, the Biden administration’s push to mobilize specific groups—like low-income households and college students—sparked accusations of cherry-picking voters likely to tilt left. It’s a strategy that feels less like democracy and more like demographics.

Rep. Steil’s warning about eroded confidence isn’t just political posturing; it’s a real concern when federal programs stray from their core mission.

The Weatherization Assistance Program was meant to keep homes warm, not to heat up voter rolls. Diverting its focus risks alienating the very taxpayers who fund it.

The Biden administration’s defenders might argue that increasing voter access is a public good, especially for underserved communities. But when federal agencies start doubling as campaign operatives, even the most well-meaning efforts can smell like overreach. Transparency and neutrality should be non-negotiable in a democracy.

Written By:
Benjamin Clark

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