FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 28, 2019
DENVER—Today, Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt appeared before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for his confirmation hearing to become Secretary of the Interior. In questioning, Bernhardt stated he would not extend his recusals covering his former clients in the oil, gas, and mining industries if confirmed by the Senate. In response, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:
“In his time at Interior, David Bernhardt has taken a sledgehammer to wildlife protections, rolled back climate safeguards, and stripped public health rules, all to increase drilling and mining on our public lands. That’s exactly what you get by putting an oil and gas lobbyist in charge of our parks, public lands, and wildlife.
“With nearly two dozen former clients that have business before the agency, David Bernhardt is a walking conflict of interest who is uniquely unfit to serve as Interior Secretary. Americans deserve an Interior Secretary who will conserve our parks and public lands for future generations, not sell them out to oil and coal companies.”
According to an analysis by the Center for Western Priorities, the Interior Department has advanced at least 25 policy changes supported or requested by at least 16 of David Bernhardt’s former clients since he was sworn in as Deputy Secretary on August 1, 2017.
Learn more:
- Six reasons why David Bernhardt is not fit to be the next Interior Secretary
- Interior Department has advanced 25 policies supported by Bernhardt’s former clients since his swearing in
- Analysis: Bernhardt-linked companies own 20 percent of oil and gas leases in sage-grouse habitat
- Trump’s pick for Interior delivers favor to major lobbying client
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.