Senate Republicans voted to let Murkowski keep her seat on the energy panel for the remainder of the session, but it’s uncertain whether the caucus will allow her to hang on to it next year. Allowing Burr to take the top energy slot while nudging Murkowski over to the powerful Appropriations subcommittee might be a way to please all parties.

“McConnell probably does not want to take on Jim DeMint and his crowd right out of the starting gate with forcing Murkowski back on ahead of Burr,” said a lobbyist who follows the energy panel.