WASHINGTON D.C.– Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales participated in meetings and briefings this week with the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The discussion focused on the implementation of President Trump’s recent Executive Order on preserving and protecting the integrity of American elections and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act currently moving through Congress. Secretary Morales looks forward to continuing to work with stakeholders in Indiana’s elections, including voters, state and local election administrators, government agencies, and lawmakers. Secretary Morales also had the opportunity to thank President Trump for his leadership in signing his recent Executive Order 14248, strengthening election integrity.
In recognition of Indiana’s role as coal producer and his work pushing back against ESG policies, Secretary Morales was invited to the White House to witness President Donald J. Trump’s signing of Executive Order 14241, designed to reinvigorate America’s clean coal industry. The Executive Order underscores President Trump’s commitment to achieving American energy dominance, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the nation’s energy infrastructure and returning high-paying jobs to American workers.
“The Executive Order represents a major step in reinvigorating America’s clean coal industry, which plays a critical role in our national energy strategy and state’s economy. I have worked to ensure Hoosier workers and businesses aren’t sidelined by external forces pushing agendas that harm our economy. President Trump has kept his promise on this issue and will not only create jobs but also ensure that Indiana’s coal industry remains a cornerstone of our state’s industry and future,” said Diego Morales, Indiana Secretary of State.
Notably, this past summer, Secretary Morales took significant Securities Division enforcement action to safeguard Hoosier investors by issuing a Cease & Desist Order against BlackRock, Inc. Enforcement underscores the danger posed to the reliable energy sector, such as coal. The order was issued in response to BlackRock’s alleged fraudulent actions related to its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds, which had misled investors about the true, non-profit-maximizing financial prospects of ESG-backed investments. With the environment being one of the main pillars, BlackRock and other investment managers allegedly promoted investment strategies aimed at eliminating the coal industry and other reliable energy sources. Expensive, unreliable energy investments were promoted instead. Secretary Morales’s actions alleged misleading practices by BlackRock and were part of his broader efforts to ensure that investment companies uphold ethical standards and provide truthful information to their clients. The action sends a clear message that Indiana is dedicated to protecting Hoosiers’ savings and investments from being misused to push ESG agendas.
President Trump’s Executive Order demonstrates his vision to empower American workers and ensure the nation’s energy independence. The Executive Order builds upon a series of actions by the administration, including withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, declaring a national energy emergency, and cutting red tape to speed up the Federal permitting process.
