Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Today, David Bernhardt testified before the House Natural Resources Committee for the first time since his confirmation as Secretary of the Interior.
Bernhardt, a former fossil fuel industry lobbyist, faced questions from the committee about his deep ties to industry and the Department’s unprecedented lack of transparency and stifling of science under his leadership. He was also asked to account for the Trump administration’s proposed budget, which would slash funding for the bipartisan Land and Water Conservation Fund, national park services, and other conservation programs while increasing funding for facilitating extraction of dirty fuels on public lands.
Throughout the hearing, Bernhardt downplayed his many conflicts of interest and gave evasive answers to questions about his track record of prioritizing corporate polluters -- including those he use to lobby on behalf of -- over the interests of the American people.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“No matter how much he bobs and weaves, David Bernhardt can’t hide his efforts to please his corporate polluter friends and former clients from legislators or the American people. Trump and Bernhardt have made their priorities clear with a proposed budget that would slash popular, bipartisan conservation programs and replace them with more handouts for the fossil fuel industry. Congress must protect our public lands, communities, and climate by rejecting this dirty budget and holding Bernhardt accountable for his ethical violations and conflicts of interest.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.