Natasha Blakely, natasha.blakely@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC – According to an interview with Karen Budd-Falen, the Secretary of the Interior has appointed her as the Interior Department’s Associate Deputy Secretary.
Budd-Falen was a deputy solicitor for the Interior Department during Donald Trump’s first administration. A long-time vocal opponent of federal lands policies, she built her law career representing ranchers and local governments in disputes over property rights with federal land agencies – including at one point Cliven Bundy, who initiated an armed standoff with federal and state law enforcement over defaulted grazing fees.
In response, Athan Manuel, director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program, released the following statement:
"Our public lands caretakers at the Interior Department have critical work to do to conserve our public lands. Now, on top of the mass firings and budget cuts that are already making their work harder, the Trump administration is creating yet another obstacle by appointing people who have made careers of fighting and undermining the mission of the very agencies they’re now working for. The appointment of Karen Budd-Falen is just further proof that Donald Trump and his administration do not care about our public lands, except for how they can break them down into parts to sell to the highest bidder.”
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.