1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the confirmation of Steve Pearce as Director of the Bureau of Land Management. His record and conflicts of interest make him fundamentally unsuited to manage the 245 million acres of public lands under BLM stewardship. Pearce co-founded a drilling company with his wife, creating a direct financial conflict with his responsibility to balance conservation and resource extraction on public lands. Throughout his tenure as a New Mexico congressman, he consistently prioritized oil and gas industry profits over land protection. He co-sponsored legislation to accelerate the disposal of federal land and worked to weaken the Antiquities Act, which safeguards scientifically and historically important resources. He has openly criticized forest and national park preservation, stating that over 90 percent of federal land is located in western states and most of it we do not even need. His legislative record demonstrates active hostility toward the conservation mission central to the BLM's mandate. Pearce advocated for reducing the number and size of national monuments, supported legislation to weaken the Endangered Species Act, and pushed to fast-track approvals for oil and gas leases on public lands. This approach contradicts the multiple-use mandate that requires BLM to balance resource extraction with recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed protection. The BLM Director must serve the public interest, not private industry. Pearce's documented advocacy for privatizing protected federal lands and his financial ties to the extraction industry create an irreconcilable conflict. These public lands belong to all Americans and provide essential ecosystem services, recreational opportunities, and economic benefits to communities across the country. I urge you to vote against Steve Pearce's confirmation and to support a nominee who will uphold the conservation mission of the Bureau of Land Management.