Sen. Grant Hauschild talks “undemocratic” federal energy grant cancellations and approaching gun control in a divided legislature

With both a deeply divided congress, and a nearly evenly split legislature, Minnesotans are watching their governments closely as they navigate several politicized issued.

Minnesota District 3 Senator Grant Hauschild spoke with WTIP about the federal cancellation of grants for clean energy projects, and the ongoing efforts in Minnesota to discuss gun control at the legislature.

Clean energy grant cancellations

On October 1, the Trump administration announced that some Department of Energy grants would be canceled. The move withdrew $7.5 billion worth of grants for clean energy projects across the country, including 12 grants totaling $464 million for Minnesota projects. All of the projects have been in states that President Donald Trump did not win in the 2024 election.

Hauschild has publicly condemned the move, calling it “undemocratic” and saying, “This is the type of thing that demands to be called out, because it’s just unacceptable in what we call a democracy here in America.”

Hauschild said the cancellation of the grants will result in higher energy costs for Minnesotans, especially those in rural communities. State law will require utility companies to shift to clean energy in the coming years, with the goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. Hauschild said that without the federal grants for these clean energy projects, the cost will be passed on to consumers.

Hauschild also took issue with the cancelations on principle, saying the grants were awarded based on the merits of the projects, and the partisanship of the withdrawal undermined the objectivity of the process. “How are we supposed to be able to pass the things that need to pass and work together on the things that we need to work together on, when you can just turn around and, you know, punish those that would be on the opposing side?” Hauschild said.

In a public letter to U.S. Rep Pete Stauber, Hauschild expressed his concern over the action, and asked Stauber to advocate for restoring the grants. Stauber represents Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, which includes the residents of State Senate District 3. In the letter Hauschild wrote, “The people of our region deserve a representative who defends them from partisan retribution, not accepts and promotes it.”

Stauber has not historically supported many clean energy projects, but Hauschild told WTIP he hopes that understanding the cost to their shared constituents could persuade Stauber to speak up for the Minnesota projects. Hauschild added, “We need to make sure that we are moving forward with not only clean energy, but frankly, just the energy infrastructure of the future.”

Minnesota legislature considers gun control measures, debates a special session

On the state level, though the legislature is not in session, negotiations between party leaders have been going on for several weeks, since Gov. Tim Walz requested that the legislators convene a special session to discuss gun control. The call followed the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in August, when two children were killed, and 18 other people were injured. The summer began with another high profile gun violence event, when two members of the state legislature and their spouses were shot in their homes. The event left former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark dead, and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette severely wounded.

Hauschild referenced both of these gun violence events, and said that he appreciated the conversations happening at the state legislature, saying that a bipartisan effort will be needed. He said, “This is a serious thing, and we have to be serious people who are taking the safety of our kids as the forefront of our policy making decisions.”

Historically, Hauschild has supported only some of the gun control measures put forth by his fellow DFLers. He has been a proponent of red flag laws, and said that improving understand of how they work could be part of reducing gun violence.

As the talks of a special session have gone on, state Republicans have identified mental health resources and school security as their priorities in addressing gun violence. Some DFLers have pushed for a ban on assault rifles and high capacity magazines. Hauschild has not said specifically whether he would ever support a ban, but at this point, he told WTIP, he believes that more nuanced definitions need to be established in any conversations that could result in a ban. He sighted the importance of hunting and outdoor culture for many in his district, saying, “No matter what we do, we have to make sure that we maintain and protect individuals ability to enjoy the traditions that we have in Minnesota, while also making sure we’re doing everything we can to keep our kids safe.”

Whether or not a ban is ultimately something Hauschild will support, he said a special session would not allow the legislature enough time to come to any decisions. He added that he believes the federal government should be taking action on this issue to prevent the “patchwork of laws” across the country.

Whatever the final proposals are for additional state gun control measures, they will need bipartisan support. In the Minnesota House the parties hold an equal number of seats, both with 67 representatives. In the Senate, while the DFLers had a one-seat majority during the 2025 session, there are currently two open seats, with special elections scheduled for Nov. 4. Hauschild said bipartisan work will be key.

“I think the last thing the parents of the Annunciation children, the families of Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman, the last thing that I think they deserve, is a political side show where we use this as a political weapon rather than a real conversation about what can happen in a bipartisan fashion,” Hauschild said.

Though an assault weapon ban might not garner support from both parties, Hauschild said that he hopes other measures like banning ghost guns or binary triggers, could get traction. He said, “The other side of the aisle has not come along with us on any of those common sense gun safety measures in the past, but perhaps their mind can be changed, given recent events.”

WTIP’s Kirsten Wisniewski spoke with Sen. Hauschild. Audio of that interview is below.

Kirsten Wisniewski October 7, 2025