WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, issued the following statement on reports that the White House is withdrawing the nomination of William Perry Pendley to serve as director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM):
“The withdrawal of William Perry Pendley’s nomination would be good news for all who value public lands, conservation, and Tribal sovereignty. It’s hard to imagine a worse pick for BLM than someone who doesn’t believe in the very idea of conservation, who has a clear history of racism toward Native Americans, and who spearheaded a relocation effort that is a transparent effort to undermine the very agency he would oversee. Pendley never should have been nominated, and the fact that he was shows you what you need to know about this administration’s conservation priorities. He should not be allowed to continue in this role in an acting, unconfirmed capacity. It’s time for DOI to stand up for our public lands and our trust and treaty obligations to Tribes.”
