From the A.P.:
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s leading steward of public lands has been serving unlawfully, blocking him from continuing in the position in the latest pushback against the administration’s practice of filling key positions without U.S. Senate approval.
U.S. Interior Department Bureau of Land Management acting director William Perry Pendley served unlawfully for 424 days without being confirmed to the post by the Senate as required under the Constitution, U.S. District Judge Brian Morris determined.
The ruling came after Montana’s Democratic governor in July sued to remove Pendley, saying the former oil industry attorney was illegally overseeing an agency that manages almost a quarter-billion acres of land, primarily in the U.S. West.
apnews.com/…
According to the article, Pendley has been removed from his position at least until after an appeal. Check out how sketchy this Pendley guy sounds:
Pendley’s actions included approval of two sweeping land resource management plans in Montana that would open 95% of federal land in the state to oil and gas development, attorneys for Bullock contended in court filings.
Pendley also tried to skirt his own time limit on unconfirmed Department heads by saying he was now “Deputy Head” of the Bureau, that the Head job would remain unfilled, and that all the duties of the Head we’re now those of the deputy. The judge wasn’t buying it.
Three enormous cheers for the Democratic Governor of Montana, Steve Bullock, who brought the original lawsuit, as well as to the Federal U.S. District Judge, Brian Morris, who made a wise decision.
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Update from Besame in the comments:
(Pendley) MOVED the BLM main office from DC to Colorado into a building that also houses Chevron, which meant many employees left because the shift was onerous.
Update from brakejob in the comments:
If Steve Bullock can do this as governor, imagine what good he could do in the U.S. Senate. It’s a close race. Help us get him over the top by donating here.