“Selloff Steve” Pearce’s Senate Committee Confirmation Hearing Raises More Questions Than Answers
Pearce Dodged Questions About His Clear Conflicts and Push to Sell Off Public Lands
HELENA, MT –Today, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led by anti-public lands Utah Sen. Mike Lee, held a confirmation hearing for “Selloff Steve” Pearce, Donald Trump’s conflicted and controversial nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management. During the hearing, Pearce repeatedly dodged questions about his anti-public lands values and pattern of pushing to sell off public lands. He failed to adequately address his millions of dollars in oil and gas holdings, his family’s industry ties, or his inadequate ethics agreement that allows him to maintain financial interests in companies he would regulate as BLM Director.
Pearce’s ethics problems and conflicts mirror the broader corruption crisis at Interior under Secretary Burgum, which has become a revolving door for industry insiders who prioritize their own profits over public lands. A broad coalition, including veterans, hunters, public land advocacy groups, and New Mexico Republicans, have called on the U.S. Senate to reject his nomination.
“Conflicted BLM nominee Pearce’s testimony today was disqualifying, and raised more concerning questions than it answered. Any Senator who votes to confirm this anti-public lands nominee will be held accountable by their voters, who overwhelmingly oppose this conflicted, revolving door politician,” said Save Our Parks spokesperson Jayson O’Neill. “Pearce couldn’t explain how he’ll avoid his oil and gas industry conflicts and dodged questions about his push to sell off public lands after his refusal to completely remove himself and his family from personal business interests. Senators must reject this nomination and demand a BLM Director nominee who will actually protect Americans’ public lands and outdoor heritage.”
A full recording of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing is available on the committee’s website. Several questions by committee members went unanswered, including direct questions about Pearce’s anti-public lands positions and Burgum’s Interior Department illegally blocking new clean energy development, which is driving up energy prices for Americans. Pearce told committee members he didn’t know the legal grounds nor justification for derailing clean energy development, a concerning admission from a former congressman who should know and understand the law.
“Pearce’s refusal to answer basic questions with clear and direct responses about his anti-public land positions and special interest conflicts during his confirmation hearing should be enough for Senators who value our outdoors to vote against his confirmation,” added O’Neill.
Despite poll findings showing three-quarters of Montana voters oppose Selloff Steve Pearce, Montana Republican Senator Steve Daines showered praise on the conflicted anti-public lands nominee and said he looked forward to his confirmation.
Additional Resources:
Questions Conflicted BLM Nominee “Selloff Steve” Pearce Must Answer
Karen Budd-Falen and “Selloff Steve” Pearce Take Grifting to New Heights
Latest In Trump and Burgum’s Fail-by-Design Bag of Tricks
Questions For Senators Who Support Trump BLM Nominee “Sell-Off Steve” Pearce
Montana’s Public Lands Birthright Under Threat from Sell Off Steve’s Nomination
Sell Off Steve Pearce at BLM, Doug Burgum’s Crony Kingdom Grows
Burgum’s Fail-By-Design Plan to Sell Off Public Lands
To speak with Save Our Parks spokesperson Jayson O’Neill, email jayson@focalpointstrategygroup.com.
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