Senators are poised to evaluate the nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a decision that could significantly impact the future of public lands in the United States. Pearce, who served as a congressman from New Mexico, has a history of advocating for privatization and the liquidation of national public lands. His nomination raises urgent questions about the commitment of Western senators to preserving these lands for public use.
Concerns Over Pearce’s Record
Throughout his political career, Pearce has co-sponsored multiple bills aimed at transferring public lands into private hands. In a 2012 letter addressed to House leadership, he claimed that the federal government holds “vast” land holdings that are largely unnecessary, suggesting a sell-off to reduce the national debt. This perspective starkly contrasts with the BLM’s mission, which is to manage 245 million acres of public land for the benefit of current and future generations.
Pearce’s approach to public lands has drawn parallels to previous nominees under President Donald Trump, specifically William Perry Pendley, who was similarly criticized for his anti-public lands stance. Pendley’s nomination was ultimately dropped after scrutiny of his record. Pearce, however, has gone further in his efforts to undermine public land protections, spending 14 years in Congress pushing to diminish wildlife protections and promote the sale of public land.
Political Implications and Public Response
The current administration has prioritized policies that favor private interests in public lands, with officials like Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins promoting initiatives that treat these lands as commodities for profit through activities such as drilling, mining, and logging. Pearce’s nomination could accelerate this trend, putting public lands at risk of being sold to the highest bidder, including corporations and luxury developers.
This sentiment is not universally accepted. For instance, in spring 2023, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee attempted to insert a public land sale provision in a budget bill, framing it as a potential housing solution. However, the proposal faced immediate backlash from a coalition of outdoor recreation groups and Western lawmakers, leading to its swift withdrawal.
The formation of the Senate Stewardship Caucus, co-chaired by Republican Tim Sheehy of Montana and Democrat Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, aims to promote bipartisan efforts for land conservation. Their success hinges on their ability to reject Pearce’s nomination, which poses a significant threat to the integrity of public lands management.
The BLM’s mandate requires a careful balance between energy development, grazing, recreation, and conservation, all based on scientific principles and public input. If Pearce, who has expressed a desire to “reverse this trend of public ownership,” assumes leadership, this balance may be jeopardized.
For many in rural communities, the stakes are high. Healthy public lands provide essential economic benefits and recreational access for hunters, anglers, and campers. The outcome of Pearce’s nomination will serve as a referendum on Congress’s commitment to maintaining public lands as a shared resource for all Americans.
As the Senate prepares to deliberate, members of the Stewardship Caucus and other senators who value the West’s outdoor heritage are urged to reject Pearce’s nomination. The future of America’s public lands, a unique legacy entrusted to future generations, depends on their decision.
Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the Center for Western Priorities and co-host of The Landscape podcast, emphasizes the importance of this nomination as a critical moment for public land advocacy.
