A western Democrat is blasting the nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management, calling his selection “an insult” to federal land protections.
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said in a statement Tuesday that he would oppose Pearce’s confirmation should it hit the Senate floor. Most Senate Democrats are expected to vote against his confirmation.
President Donald Trump tapped Pearce to lead BLM last month. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has not yet scheduled a confirmation hearing.
Bennet said Pearce “will be the first to sell off our public lands, promote Trump’s misguided ‘drill baby drill’ policies, and demolish the protections that ensure our kids and grandkids will benefit from public lands as we do now.”
