The Trump administration is indefinitely suspending a newly formed advisory panel designed to help oversee implementation of the public lands rule finalized by the Bureau of Land Management under former President Joe Biden.
Nada Wolff Culver, BLM’s former principal deputy director and one of the architects of the signature Biden administration regulation, said she fears this signals the new administration is moving to dismantle the rule that seeks to balance conservation with energy development, livestock grazing, recreation and other uses of BLM rangelands.
“I can tell you that I don’t think the advisory committee or the rule itself should be sacrificed,” Culver said in a text. “A lot of people from a lot of different perspectives … took the time to apply and agree to serve on the committee because they see the value of the public in public lands. The administration should honor that commitment and hear them out — especially before taking any other steps.”
Representatives with BLM and the Interior Department did not respond to requests for comment.