Delegation of authority over Federal Lands

I write to demand immediate congressional oversight and litigation regarding Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s April 18, 2025, secretarial order granting Tyler Hassen—a former oil executive and operative of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—sweeping authority over federal lands, personnel, budgets, and policy. This dangerous delegation effectively outsources core governmental functions to an unconfirmed, temporary appointee with direct ties to private industry and a partisan agenda. Key Concerns Requiring Investigation:     1.    Unlawful Delegation: Hassen’s authority to unilaterally restructure contracting, staffing, and funding—without reporting to Burgum—may violate the Federal Vacancies Reform Act (if performing duties of a Senate-confirmed role) and the Civil Service Reform Act (if bypassing due process in personnel decisions).     2.    Conflict of Interest: Hassen’s oil-industry background and DOGE affiliation risk prioritizing corporate interests over conservation, tribal rights, and wildfire preparedness.     3.    Accountability Vacuum: The order grants Hassen “any authority necessary” to bypass career staff and dismantle safeguards for national parks and public lands.   Demands:     •    Hold emergency hearings to scrutinize the legality of Burgum’s order under 5 U.S.C. §§ 3345-3349 (vacancies law) and 5 U.S.C. § 2301 (merit system principles).     •    Direct the GAO to audit DOGE’s influence on federal agencies, including its role in Interior’s personnel purges.     •    Support litigation by conservation groups challenging this outsourcing of federal authority. Secretary Burgum’s abdication of his Senate-confirmed duties to an unaccountable DOGE operative sets a dangerous precedent. Congress must act before irreversible harm is done to our public lands and the civil servants who protect them.