The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been settled into its new headquarters in Grand Junction, CO, since this summer. The agency made the decision to relocate its office from Washington, D.C. to Colorado last fall.
The move generated much controversy, with critics saying the move was an attempt to “gut the agency.” As a result of the headquarters change, over 70 percent of BLM staff left the agency.
Last July, Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner (R) praised the relocation.
“Relocating the BLM to the Western Slope of Colorado will bring the bureau’s decision makers closer to the people they serve and the public lands they manage,” Gardner said in a released statement. “The problem with Washington is too many policy makers are far removed from the people they are there to serve.”
The agency said the move was going to improve efficiency and reduce cost, with staff members closer to the lands they manage, and rent prices much lower than the cost of renting in Washington D.C.
Investigation
After a congressional request, the Interior Department Office of the Inspector General conducted an investigation to determine whether Interior officials made false statements to Congress concerning the reasons for BLM’s relocation. The investigation did not review policy decisions behind the Interior’s decision to move the BLM headquarters.
BLM asserted it was unable to remain at its current headquarters in D.C. after the lease expired in January 2021, because the new lease would exceed $50 per rentable square feet (rsf).
The investigation determined the Interior’s assertion that it could not remain at the D.C. location due to the expiration of the lease was accurate. However, the investigation also found the future cost of a new BLM lease in D.C. was not the motivating factor in the BLM’s decision to relocate, because the department already had intended to move staff into a different federal building.
As the department already had longstanding plans to relocate, “BLM did not engage the U.S. General Services Administration to initiate negotiations with the landlord and obtain congressional approval for a renewed lease as required under Federal law and regulations.”
Therefore, “The department’s assertion that the BLM was unable to remain at its 20 M Street location after its lease expired in January 2021 because the new rate would exceed $50 per rsf was misleading.”
The investigation did not find evidence that Interior and BLM officials who signed or submitted statements about the cost of renewing the lease were personally involved, but had interpreted data from the General Services Administration that described market rates for commercial leases in the D.C. area.
The report was given to the Chief of Staff for the Office of the Secretary for any action deemed appropriate.
Pendley’s appointment
Another topic of controversy is William Perry Pendley’s role as acting director for the BLM. Pendley has been in the position for over a year, even though he has never been confirmed by the Senate. Critics argue the continuously renewed temporary appointment was an attempt to skirt the nomination process, and a series of groups, including Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D), have filed lawsuits to remove Pendley from office.
President Donald Trump formally nominated Pendley to be considered by the Senate for the role in June. In mid-August, a senior administration official confirmed the president intended to withdraw the nomination, after facing much criticism.
“Good!” Bullock tweeted in response. “William Perry Pendley wants to sell off our public lands—and has no business being in charge of them.”
The decision to remove Pendley’s nomination is not expected to become official until after the Senate returns to session, after WLJ press time.
Pendley has been criticized for his past-spoken belief that public lands should be sold, although the Interior Department has disputed the notion, saying BLM has acquired 25,000 acres under his leadership.
“The BLM director is a Senate-confirmed position for a reason,” said Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities. “Whoever is in charge of one-tenth of all lands in America must be approved by the Senate, and these bald-faced attempts to evade the Senate’s advice-and-consent duties cannot stand.” — Anna Miller, WLJ editor
