Courtney Bourgoin, courtney.bourgoin@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC— Today, Interior Secretary Bernhardt sent an email to the agency’s staff stating that William Perry Pendley— who a court ruled has been illegally serving as Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Acting Director— will remain on the Interior Department’s management team. The Trump administration also refused to name a replacement for BLM Director despite Pendley’s removal, leaving Secretary Bernhardt in the interim acting role.
In response to the announcement, Athan Manuel, Director of Lands Policy at the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“It’s been less than a week since a judge ruled Pendley was illegally serving as the Bureau of Land Management Acting Director, yet, the Trump administration is continuing to neglect the law by leaving Pendley in a role of power so they can maintain their fossil fuel agenda at the agency tasked to protect public lands and natural resources.
“The culture of corruption embedded in the Trump administration is on full display— and it will have devastating, long-term effects on our communities, water, air, health and the climate. People deserve better. We need a Bureau of Land Management that will fight for the protection of lands and waters to safeguard people.”
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.