Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reports emerged Thursday morning that Donald Trump would pick a top oil and gas lobbyist to oversee federal public lands in Alaska. Kara Moriarty will be Trump’s pick to lead the Department of the Interior’s work in Alaska. Moriarty currently serves as the president and CEO of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association.
The Interior Department manages millions of acres of land in Alaska, including more subsurface acres than any other state. Placing an oil and gas lobbyist in charge of those landscapes is likely to mean an increased focus on drilling, mining, and other forms of extraction over conservation.
The Trump administration has made no secret of its “drill, baby, drill” agenda, with Alaska serving a prominent role in advancing it. Multiple Day One executive orders signed by Trump sought to expand industrial development on public lands in Alaska and the Arctic, from increased oil and gas drilling to supercharging logging in one of the last remaining old growth forests in the country. Trump also has a history of nominating oil and gas industry figures to top positions in his administration. In February, Trump nominated Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, to lead the Bureau of Land Management. The administration unexpectedly pulled the nomination after comments by Sgamma that were critical of Trump’s role in the January 6 attack on the capitol building became public.
In response, Athan Manuel, director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program, released the following statement:
“Alaska’s wildlife and Alaska’s communities all rely on these lands remaining preserved. Putting an oil and gas lobbyist in charge of those landscapes threatens the integrity of these treasured places and makes it uncertain whether future generations will be able to explore them like their parents and grandparents. Our public lands belong to all Americans, not to Big Oil CEOs and corporate polluters, and we’re going to work to keep them that way.”
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.