Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is urging fellow Republicans to avoid sweeping cuts to President Joe Biden’s major climate legislation as discussions heat up over funding new policy goals under President Donald Trump.
The Alaska senator is opposing calls from within her party to broadly eliminate clean energy tax incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act, instead advocating for a more targeted approach to protect key provisions that benefit her state, as the Daily Caller reports.
Passed in 2022 with no Republican support, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offered extensive support for clean energy, but it is now under fire as Republicans pursue a reconciliation bill to fund Trump-era initiatives. The Republican-led House is proposing to slash large portions of the IRA, especially its climate-related sections, to redirect funds toward new priorities.
Murkowski has pushed back against what she describes as a blunt-force approach. She advocates for protecting parts of the law that support ongoing energy development in Alaska, including clean energy projects that are just starting to gain traction. According to the senator, simply repealing wide sections of the IRA could derail investments already set in motion. “Taking a more cautious and conscientious approach” is essential, Murkowski said, noting the consequences that abrupt policy reversals could have for her state.
She has joined three other GOP senators in formally requesting that Senate Republican leadership preserve a number of the IRA's clean energy tax provisions. The appeal was made in April, signaling a growing divide within Republican ranks over how aggressively to dismantle the legislation.
Known for crossing party lines, Murkowski has often set herself apart from mainstream Republican positions. She has stated she is “not attached to the Republican label,” reflecting a more centrist strategy. Though she supported most of President Biden’s Cabinet picks, she voted against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, one of only two Republicans to do so. Her independent posture has also put her at odds with party hardliners. In April, the senator admitted she was concerned about “retaliation” from Trump’s circle due to her positions.
At the same time, Murkowski was not shy about criticizing the Biden administration. She has taken issue with decisions that restrict resource development in Alaska, such as canceling oil leases and removing land from eligibility for future drilling or mineral exploration. Yet, she still defends many of the IRA’s climate provisions.
Across the aisle, some Republicans are pushing for a swift and total repeal of the IRA, which could cost over $1 trillion by 2032, with long-term projections reaching nearly $5 trillion. These lawmakers view the law as fiscally irresponsible and skewed in favor of foreign competition, especially Chinese companies tapping into U.S. subsidies.
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas has emerged as one of the law’s fiercest critics. In a statement, he described the IRA as the “Green New Scam,” arguing that it provides “massive unlimited subsidies” to large corporations and international manufacturers at the expense of “American energy freedom.” Roy insists that full repeal is essential if Republicans want to advance their energy agenda. “We have no choice,” he said, “but to fully -- and immediately -- repeal the Green New Scam.”
Despite pressure for full repeal, Murkowski is not alone in her call for moderation. At least a dozen House Republicans are reportedly asking GOP leadership to reconsider dismantling the IRA completely. Many of them are open to altering specific parts of the law while preserving its more economically or regionally beneficial aspects. These members are less interested in ideological victory and more focused on ensuring existing projects are not upended by sudden law changes. Their approach reflects a growing awareness of how deeply the IRA has become woven into the country’s renewable energy infrastructure over the last three years.
Nevertheless, the House appears on track to move forward with its proposed reconciliation bill. A vote is expected soon before the measure is passed on to the Senate, where Murkowski and likeminded senators will likely attempt to revise or soften the proposed rollbacks.
A particularly contentious feature of the IRA is its “transferability” option, which allows clean energy project sponsors to sell tax credits to third parties. This practice has made financing easier and jump-started activity in the green energy sector. Republican lawmakers, however, argue the mechanism is open to abuse and could be exploited by non-U.S. companies.
Murkowski’s defense of that mechanism appears grounded in Alaska’s economic landscape, where remote locations and harsh conditions often require unique financing strategies to launch energy projects. Removing such tools at once could result in gridlock for efforts to modernize the state’s energy systems and reduce reliance on diesel fuel in rural communities. The senator seems determined to build consensus around a more calibrated approach.
As the legislative process unfolds, the debate over the IRA reflects deeper divisions within the Republican Party about how to manage environmental policy and government spending. Murkowski’s stance highlights a faction of Republicans who are willing to support some level of clean energy investment, even as fiscal conservatives press for major cuts.
With the Senate expected to take up the reconciliation bill after the House’s vote, negotiations will likely intensify. The final shape of the bill may well depend on how persuasive lawmakers like Murkowski can be in rallying others to back a more surgical retrenchment. What remains clear is that the Inflation Reduction Act, now a centerpiece of U.S. climate and energy policy, has become a lightning rod in partisan efforts to reshape federal spending and policy priorities — and its future hangs in the balance.
