Senate Probes CCP-Funded Climate Lawfare Against U.S. Energy

A Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz revealed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is financially backing left-wing climate advocacy groups in the U.S. to pursue litigation aimed at weakening American energy producers. The CCP-controlled Energy Foundation China (EFC) has funneled millions of dollars to U.S. environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Rocky Mountain Institute to support lawsuits and messaging targeting oil, gas, and coal industries, which aligns with China’s geopolitical interests. Witnesses at the hearing, including Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and State Armor CEO Michael Lucci, highlighted how the CCP uses this funding to promote green energy technologies that increase U.S. dependence on China, potentially embedding vulnerabilities such as backdoor kill switches in energy infrastructure. Sen. Cruz condemned what he called "judicial capture" through ideological indoctrination of judges by CCP-funded organizations. The hearing underscored concerns about national security risks posed by foreign influence over U.S. courts and energy policy, calling for government action to root out malign Chinese influence and protect American energy dominance.