FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2018
DENVER — In response to today’s announcement by the Department of the Interior appointing new “regional facilitators” as part of the Department’s reorganization process, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:
“Secretary Zinke just announced an entirely new layer of middle management while doing nothing to actually streamline the federal bureaucracy. Congress has provided no funding for this reorganization, nor has the Interior Department proposed any changes that would make the government more efficient. Secretary Zinke and Deputy Secretary Bernhardt need to stop distracting their employees when there are far more pressing issues facing the Interior Department today.”
In its Frequently Asked Questions about the reorganization, the Interior Department admits it has only requested funding for these changes, while Congress has not approved any money. Congressional appropriators warned Zinke in March to not move ahead with a reorganization alone. Specifically:
“No agency shall implement any part of a reorganization that modifies regional or State boundaries for agencies or bureaus that were in effect as of the date of enactment of this Act unless approved consistent with the General Guidelines for Reprogramming procedures specified herein.
“Any such reprogramming request submitted to the Committees on Appropriations shall include a description of anticipated benefits, including anticipated efficiencies and cost-savings, as well as a description of anticipated personnel impacts and funding changes anticipated to implement the proposal.”
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org. Sign up for Look West to get daily public lands and energy news sent to your inbox.