September 9th, 2020

Honorable David L. Bernhardt Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. , D.C. 20240

Re: Remove William Perry Pendley from the Bureau of Land Management

Dear Secretary Bernhardt,

On behalf of the undersigned organizations and businesses and our millions of members and supporters nationwide, we write to ask that you immediately remove Mr. William Perry Pendley from his role leading the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

On August 3rd, over 300 organizations, Tribes and businesses wrote to the Senate opposing Mr. Pendley’s nomination for Director of the BLM. Mr. Pendley remains completely unfit to lead the BLM in any capacity due to his decades-long record of inflammatory rhetoric and actions opposing virtually all issues of social justice and diversity, opposing Tribes’ efforts to protect sacred sites and mocking indigenous religious beliefs, virtually unprecedented conflicts of interest and ethical issues, and embrace of radical anti-conservation positions including advocating for the sale of public lands. This previous letter documenting Mr. Pendley’s lack of fitness for leading the BLM is enclosed for reference.

The withdrawal of Mr. Pendley’s nomination for Director of the BLM is a clear admission that Mr. Pendley is fundamentally unfit for the job and incapable of receiving Senate confirmation. Leaving Mr. Pendley in charge of the Bureau of Land Management in his current capacity exercising the authority of the Director or in any other leadership role is unacceptable.

The American people deserve to have our public lands, including those administered by the Bureau of Land Management, managed in the public interest by a qualified leader who is fit to serve. Leaving Mr. Pendley in charge indefinitely while acknowledging his lack of fitness and inability to receive Senate confirmation is nothing more than an attempt to avoid accountability.

We urge you to remove Mr. Pendley from his position leading the Bureau of Land Management immediately.

Sincerely,

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