In a letter sent on Tuesday, Republican Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, along with a group of GOP lawmakers, raised concerns over the abrupt reassignment of Steven Black, the director of the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (DOE-IN) within the Department of Energy. The lawmakers claim that the Biden administration "suddenly" reassigned Black to a "senior adviser" role without providing any explanation.

The letter, addressed to DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm, highlighted the importance of the Department's work, particularly in national security. It mentioned that a study conducted by an outside contractor, which has been in possession of the DOE since April, revealed troubling findings about the state of counterintelligence across the Department, including national laboratories.

The letter, signed by Republican Senators John Barrasso, Marco Rubio, Steve Daines, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Tom Cotton, Jerry Moran, John Cornyn, and James Lankford, expressed concerns about Black's role in overseeing the DOE-IN during a period of alleged counterintelligence shortcomings. The lawmakers asserted that if such shortcomings existed, Black should not hold any office with national security responsibilities.

Senator Barrasso, as the ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, along with Senator Rubio, the vice chairman of the Committee on Intelligence, lent their weight to the letter.

The GOP lawmakers are seeking answers regarding the sudden reassignment of Black after serving in the role for 11 years, as well as clarification on his new position within the Department. They also want to ascertain whether the findings of the contractor study played a role in this decision. Additionally, the letter requests information on when the Department received the study in April and its stance on the study's conclusions.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Energy for comment on the matter, but no response has been received yet.

The concerns raised by the GOP lawmakers highlight their commitment to national security and the importance of proper oversight in the Department of Energy. As the investigation unfolds, further details may emerge regarding the reasons behind Black's reassignment and the potential implications for counterintelligence efforts within the Department.