Source: Niskanen Center
by Maureen Klovers
“In December 2020, I became the director of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s nearly $2 billion RESTORE Act1 programs to revitalize the economy and ecosystems of the U.S. Gulf Coast. It was a nonpolitical appointee position and a fascinating opportunity to oversee two grant programs to address the damage done by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Funded by civil and administrative penalties imposed because of the spill, our work spanned economic development and workforce development, infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, scientific research, and other activities in the 47 states and counties named in the statute as the most affected by the oil spill. The very first thing I did was ask our grantees for feedback on working with us — and I got an earful.” (03/31/26)