Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration yesterday announced its nomination of Kathleen Sgamma to lead the Bureau of Land Management, which is charged with the stewardship of 245 million acres of American land. Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, is a vocal advocate for oil and gas development on federal land and easing regulations in favor of oil, gas and mining interests.

“The administration’s nomination of Kathleen Sgamma represents a threat to the conservation of our nation’s public lands and wildlife,” said Robert Dewey, vice president of government relations to Defenders of Wildlife. “Ms. Sgamma is a vocal advocate for opening our federal lands to increased oil, gas and mining development which will threaten vital wildlife habitat and set back our nation’s climate goals. These lands should be stewarded in a balanced and sustainable way, not prioritized for the administration’s ‘drill, baby drill’ goals.”

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For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.

  

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(202) 772-0217

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