Washington, D.C. — The nomination of William Perry Pendley to lead the U.S. Bureau of Land Management “is like putting an arsonist in charge of the fire department,” given his long history of advocacy for selling America’s public lands and his support of policies that threaten the more than 245 million acres of essential wildlife habitat and public lands under the agency’s management.

“The nomination of William Perry Pendley to lead the Bureau of Land Management is like putting an arsonist in charge of the fire department. Pendley has not only urged the sale of public lands, but he also has questioned their existence under the Constitution,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Just as the U.S. Senate came together to pass the Great American Outdoors Act and invest in our public lands, senators should unite again against Pendley's nomination to make it clear that our public lands should remain in public hands — and be managed by leaders who at a minimum share the conservation ethic that has underpinned the BLM’s work since it was established in 1946 and until Pendley’s appointment.”

The National Wildlife Federation, its western affiliates and conservation allies have urged Congress to demand the resignation of Pendley following his temporary appointment to lead the Bureau of Land Management, which started just under a year ago.