President Trump has nominated former Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The BLM manages federal lands and sets policy for energy production, grazing and recreation upon them.
Pearce unsuccessfully ran to be New Mexico’s governor in 2018. In the House, he served on the House Natural Resources committee, which oversees the agency he may now run.
Pearce’s nomination comes several months after Trump’s initial pick for the role, Kathleen Sgamma withdrew from consideration.
While no reason was given for her withdrawal, it came after comments she made that were critical of the Jan. 6, 2021 riots and President Trump’s rhetoric related to them surfaced.
Pearce’s nomination received praise from Republicans and criticism from environmental groups.
“Steve’s leadership will be invaluable in managing our public lands and wisely stewarding our resources. This nomination is a major win for Wyoming and the entire west, and I’m glad to see such a crucial role filled by someone so well qualified,” said Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) in a written statement.
“Pearce is a climate change denier, an ally of the oil and gas industry, and an opponent of the landscapes and waters that generations of Americans have explored and treasured. Time and time again, Donald Trump has shown he thinks the primary beneficiaries of our shared natural heritage should be billionaires and corporate polluters, and not the American people,” said a written statement from Dan Ritzman, director of conservation at the Sierra Club.
Source: The Hill
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