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Energy & Environment
David Bernhardt, who is expected to become secretary to the company Interim Interior, Delighted President Donald Trump, But Attacks Attacks on Environmental Defense Groups [19659005] By BEN LEFEBVRE
Along with former EPA chief Scott Pruitt, Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, has an experienced MP plunged into the world of bureaucratic infighting and ready to fill shoes – one that has longstanding ties with the energy sector that it regulates now.
David Bernhardt, Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior, former lobbyist for the oil, gas and water industries who depend on the Interior. The company 's decisions are set to become Acting Secretary following the announcement of President Donald Trump on Saturday that Zinke will leave by the end of the year. And it is already worrying for environmentalists, some of whom had said they would rather see a Zinke distracted and scandalized by the scandal, stay in office.
Continuation of History
Berhnardt, who joined the Trump administration last year, took the lead role in easing the Department's protections against species at risk, which will make drilling easier. in oil and gas companies on ecologically sensitive lands. "He knows how to run this agency and he explains why Interior is now considered" best in class "in terms of agency performance," said Stephen Brown, lobbyist at RBJ Strategies.
Environmental advocacy groups quickly called for more control Bernhardt's report.
"In the end, Bernhardt is too opposed to being acting secretary," said Chris Saeger, executive director of the Western Values Project, a conservation group that had initiated court proceedings in July to request access to Bernhardt's official communications. "At the very least, the American public deserves to know more about the man behind the curtain who currently directs the show at Interior and who may soon be fully responsible for the management of public lands, wildlife and natural resources of our country. "
" If Ryan Zinke was bad, his possible replacement, David Bernhardt, is even worse, "said the Alaska Wilderness League on Saturday.
And Bernhardt could end up at the post definitively, according to a source who reportedly declared that Trump was satisfied with the efficiency with which he was running most of the agency under Zinke's supervision.The source said that it might be too problematic for Trump to find another candidate in the Interior among a ser ie other high level vacancies in his administration.
Other names have been proposed by representatives of the industry and green groups, including representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Whom Trump would have envisioned for the position there is two years, but who was quick to criticize Trump's disclosed secrets. on sexual assault a month before the election of 2016. McMorris Rodgers is not interested in the work at present, said a source Saturday
The consensus is that choose Bernhardt – already confirmed by the Senate – would be the path of least resistance.
On the other hand, Bernhardt might not want the job, said a lawyer who has affairs in front of the Interior.
"Some people think he [Bernhardt] may not want to stay around for two more years and could even see all the ceremonial and speech. -Make the secretary a distraction to do what he wants, "said the lawyer, who requested anonymity to discuss staffing issues.
Bernhardt has been warned for some time now that he may have to intervene. for Zinke, whose troubles included an ongoing investigation into a land deal in Montana – reported for the first time by POLITICO – linked to Halliburton's president, one of the world's largest energy companies. The Inspector General of the Interior has referred the investigation to the Ministry of Justice for further investigation or prosecution, according to several media.
"For at least a month, it is common knowledge, even of the secretary, that David must be ready," POLITICO told a source close to Interior officials for an article published in October. The source asked for anonymity to discuss internal issues in the department.
Bernhardt, a former lobbyist known as "the lawyer's lawyer" in the industry could end up playing a role similar to the one that has long existed in Washington The lobbyist Andrew Wheeler has played since as interim administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency this summer. Unlike the former EPA chief, Pruitt, who had alienated even many Republican lawmakers with his cascade of personal scandals, Wheeler kept a relatively low profile while still methodically lowering environmental rules and promote the production of coal and oil.
Bernhardt worked as a lawyer at the Department of the Interior under the administration of George W. Bush, at a time when the department was also struck by the scandal of its division to oversee leases. d & # 39; energy. He then went to lobbyist Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where he was working for a client seeking to pump water from the Mojave Desert to southern California.
Many environmental activists fear that Bernhardt will be more effective than Zinke in running the Trump program. In fact, they claim that it's already what he's done, after taking meetings with the staff assigned to the credits and leading the policy on prominent issues, such as redesigning the Endangered Species Act and reorganization of the Ministry.
"Why would I want him to take over? I can not say it, "said Aaron Weiss, media director of the Center for Western Priorities, at POLITICO earlier this fall.
"There are so many parallels to the situation of Scott Pruitt and Andrew Wheeler [at EPA] and the situation of Ryan Zinke and David Bernhardt. Andrew Wheeler knows exactly how to pull the levers of politics, "added Weiss. Dave Bernhardt is exactly the same. It is a conflict of interest.
Zinke's tenure was subjected to a cloud formed by numerous inquiries into his behavior in the interior.The office of the IG discussed its links with Halliburton's president, Dave Lesar, who met Zinke inside the head office to discuss a real estate contract involving land owned by a non-profit organization established by Zinke and now controlled by his wife.
] The IG also looks to see if Zinke has bent to political pressure by blocking indigenous demands. American tribes will open a casino in Connecticut, in response to POLITICO's report on lobbying by their business rivals.
The pressure on Zinke will only intensify in January when Democrats take control of the House and with the power to launch new investigations into Trump's cabinet. 19659015]
While investigations kept Zinke's names under the titles, Bernhardt discreetly assumed much of the responsibility. for pushing Trump's program, sources said
Bernhardt played a leading role in Zinke's political signing effort, namely reorganizing the department and sending additional staff to Western states . Bernhardt became "the main point of contact" for the reorganization, POLITICO spokesman Jay Tilton told the Senate Committee on Credits.
Requests for document registration have generated little communication from Bernhardt – raising additional fears among green groups.
The American Oversight surveillance group urged investigators who had been investigating for a year and a half about Zinke's abundance. alleged conflicts of interest and potential misdeeds to focus on their replacement.
"It is high time that the sun's rays focus on the deputy secretary Bernhardt," said Austin Evers on Saturday. "We will see if he has the backbone to answer the questions that Zinke was missing."
Eliana Johnson and Rachael Bade contributed to this report.
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