February 4, 2019
Washington, DC
In response to Trump’s official nomination this afternoon of David Bernhardt to replace Ryan Zinke as Interior Department Secretary, Greenpeace USA Climate Campaigner Vicky Wyatt said,
“The ethical questions surrounding David Bernhardt and his commitment to pandering to oil, coal, and gas executives make former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke look like a tree-hugging environmentalist in comparison. And Ryan Zinke was a disaster. We already let Bernhardt do enough damage to our federal lands and waters as deputy secretary – we have to stop him before he destroys some of this country’s best ideas including the Endangered Species Act. Our new leaders in Congress can demonstrate respect for our country’s most unique natural treasures by not only holding both Zinke and Bernhardt accountable for possible ethical violations, but by only confirming an Interior Secretary who wishes to strengthen and protect public lands and waters, not destroy them for corporate gain.”
Greenpeace USA and the Center for Biological Diversity sent a letter in December asking the Interior Department’s Inspector General to investigate David Bernhardt’s possible ethical violations, including recusal violations, and to respond to requests for increased transparency from the agency.
Contact:
Cassady Craighill, [email protected], 828-817-3328
