Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works narrowly voted to advance Donald Trump’s nominee for the country’s chief wildlife officer.
In a party-line 10-9 vote, the Committee positively recommended the nomination of Brian Nesvik to run the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. His nomination now heads to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote.
Nesvik has a controversial resume when it comes to protecting imperiled species. A former head of Wyoming’s Game and Fish Department, his tenure was checkered by a rise in disease among the state’s elk herds and questionable policies that would drive grizzly bear and wolf populations to bare minimum numbers. He also called for the removal of Endangered Species Act protections for grizzlies in previous congressional testimony. Among its other duties, the USFWS is responsible for enforcing the ESA in the United States.
The Committee vote caps off a second week of sustained attacks on the Endangered Species Act. In addition to Nesvik’s nomination, the House Committee on Natural Resources advanced a bill from Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) that would force the immediate delisting of gray wolves in the U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), the chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, has also introduced a bill that would amend the ESA beyond recognition, rendering it effectively toothless to protect species.
In response, Bradley Williams, Sierra Club’s Deputy Legislative Director for Wildlife and Lands Protection, released the following statement:
“The Endangered Species Act is one of the most important environmental laws of the last century. With Brian Nesvik at the helm, it’s unclear whether the Fish & Wildlife Service would fulfill its duty to uphold that law.
“His record in Wyoming is questionable at best and he is on record as opposing the use of the law he’ll be entrusted to follow. At a time when the Endangered Species Act is under a sustained assault by anti-wildlife activists, this nomination is the reddest of flags. The American people overwhelmingly support the ESA, as they have for more than 50 years. Senators would be well-served to remember that as they consider this nomination.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.