Conservation groups criticize BLM nominee for supporting sale of public land

Steve Pearce, former U.S. Representative from New Mexico and President Donald Trumps latest nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is facing pushback from environmental organizations in Montana and across the Western United States.

Pearces nomination has reignited debates over federal land management, reminiscent of controversies surrounding Trumps proposed One Big Beautiful Bill, which included provisions for selling public lands. The issue previously led to the creation of bipartisan congressional caucuses focused on public land access and management, co-chaired by Montana lawmakers.

In Montana and the Dakotas, the BLM manages over 8.3 million acres of federal land. Nationally, the agency oversees 245 million acres of surface land and 700 million acres of subsurface rights, making the position highly influential for energy companies and outdoor recreation groups.

The Center for Western Priorities notes Pearces long-standing opposition to public land protections, citing his sponsorship of bills to reduce national monuments and expand resource extraction on national forest land. Critics emphasize his history of promoting legislation that would allow federal lands to be sold or exchanged with local governments. In a 2012 letter to then-House Speaker John Boehner, Pearce stated that much of the federal land in the West was unnecessary and suggested sales could help reduce the national deficit.

Aubrey Bertram, federal policy director at Wild Montana, criticized Pearces record, saying, We cannot afford to hand the keys to 245 million acres of public land to someone who has spent his career trying to auction them off to the highest bidder. Steve Pearces record shows he favors privatizing public lands for wealthy interests rather than protecting them for the public.

Despite the backlash from conservation groups, Pearces nomination has been welcomed by energy and mining companies and Republican officials, including Montana Senator Steve Daines. Daines praised Pearces experience as a Westerner familiar with federal, state, and private land issues, emphasizing his practical understanding of the regions challenges.

Daines and Senator Tim Sheehy, co-chairs of the Senate Stewardship Caucus, have previously opposed using public land sales to reduce the federal deficit. However, Montanas congressional delegation has consistently supported increasing coal and energy extraction, including recent moves to reopen 1.7 million acres of federal land for coal leasing.

Pearce also has personal ties to the energy sector, having founded and later sold an oilfield services company in New Mexico before beginning his seven-term tenure in Congress starting in 2003. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate and governor of New Mexico.

Industry groups have applauded Pearces nomination. The National Cattlemens Beef Association described him as thoroughly qualified to lead the BLM, while the Western Energy Alliance highlighted his experience as a former congressman and chair of the Congressional Western Caucus, noting his advocacy for multiple uses of public lands, including energy development.

Author: Benjamin Carter