As a private attorney, Karen Budd-Falen represented numerous ranching interests in fights against environmental regulations and public land management agencies. When Budd-Falen joined the Interior department in 2018 during the first Trump administration as a high-ranking legal official, she signed ethics documents that barred her from working on or even discussing grazing issues. A disqualification statement that accompanied her ethics recusal at the time stated, “I will recuse myself from any discussion of grazing matters or the Department’s process for issuing grazing permits for the duration of my appointment.”
Budd-Falen is now back at the Interior department as associate deputy secretary, the agency’s third highest-ranking position. According to reporting by Chris D’Angelo for Public Domain, she has been actively working on grazing-related issues since returning to Interior last year. “There is no clear evidence that Budd-Falen has signed an updated ethics recusal covering her current tenure,” writes D’Angelo, meaning her potential conflicts of interest tied to ranching remain largely the same as her 2025 financial disclosure details. Budd-Falen and her husband have stakes in multiple ranching operations, some of which involved federal permits to graze cattle on public lands.
An Interior spokesperson did not respond after Public Domain asked about Budd-Falen’s involvement in grazing-related issues since returning to the department, given the clear language in her 2018 ethics filings. The following day, a “conflict of interest waiver” for Budd-Falen suddenly appeared in the U.S. Office of Government Ethics disclosure database. Public Domain has requested but not yet obtained that document, and Interior did not respond to questions about what the waiver covers.
Podcast: America’s 250th anniversary and why history matters in our parks
On the latest episode of The Landscape podcast, Aaron is joined by Alan Spears from the National Parks Conservation Association to discuss his recent testimony before Congress about the Trump administration’s efforts to erase difficult histories from national parks and historic sites. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Alan makes the case that telling the full story of our past is patriotic. He warns about the consequences of sanitizing history and explains why telling complex stories strengthens our democracy.
Quick hits
Despite conflicts of interest, Karen Budd-Falen is working on grazing at Interior
National park employees say SFGATE has been blacklisted by the Interior department
Colorado sues to block Energy department orders keeping Craig coal plant open
Interior moves nearly 4,000 firefighters to new fire service
Oregon has found a new way to fund wildlife conservation
Verdict still out on lawmakers putting an end to Colorado’s ‘oil and gas wars’
‘Their power feels like mine:’ A dog sled racer says goodbye to her pack
Opinion: Why you should care about conservation easements, even if you’ve never set foot on a ranch
Quote of the day
I guess your story in SFGATE hit a nerve back in DC. It was accurate and detailed and therefore, not surprisingly, your [news site] got blacklisted. You should be proud.”
—Jon Jarvis, former National Park Service director, SFGATE
Picture This
Ah, spring! It’s just around the corner. Temperatures are warming, birds are singing, and larger wildlife will soon be on the move.
You can help keep yourself and other visitors safe and wildlife wild (and us from being up all night) by setting a good example! Remember to treat all wildlife with proper caution and respect. The safety of wildlife, as well as your own safety, depends on everyone using good judgment.
Check out ways to safely watch wildlife at NPS.gov.
P.S. The spider is on your backpack.
Featured image: Karen Budd-Falen speaks at the 2024 Western Ag and Environmental Law Conference at the University of Nevada, Reno. Photo by Drew Viguet, Flickr.