Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke is once again struggling with the truth. Zinke has consistently stated that he would not sell of public lands -- including at his confirmation hearing. However, that appears to be exactly what he’s doing. Following his unprecedented attack on national monuments, it was unveiled yesterday by the Washington Post that he is proposing to sell off illegally removed 1,600 acres of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Some of the land that would be sold off is adjacent to land owned by an avid Trump supporter and a current Republican lawmaker in Utah. Yet another instance of Trump’s corrupt administration selling out the American public to help his friends.
On the heels of Zinke moving to sell off our public lands and while continuing to deny climate change, this morning, the Guardian reported that Zinke has appointed his high school football teammate, Steve Howke, who has no relevant experience, to oversee the review of all scientific funding above $50,000. According to the report, Howke’s process is crippling research, including Climate Adaptation Science Centers.
In response, Sierra Club Our Wild America campaign Director Lena Moffitt released the following statement:
“Ryan Zinke is proving himself to be nothing more than a deceitful grifter, using his position to promote his friends while trying to sell of our public lands and deny the facts. Our public lands are for us all to enjoy and explore, not for Zinke to exploit as he enriches politically aligned friends. And putting high school buddies in power as they choke of funds for scientific research is nothing short of abuse of power. With more than 11 investigations into his tenure at Interior, Zinke is proving himself to be a corrupt fraud.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.