Oil wells Credit: BLM
May 21, 2026 - Washington, DC — on Tuesday, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks released the following:
Late yesterday the Senate voted to confirm Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the nation’s largest land manager in charge of nearly 250 million acres.
In response, Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement:
“The Bureau of Land Management exists to wisely steward our public lands now and for future generations, but Mr. Pearce has spent his career doing just the opposite. As a member of Congress from New Mexico, he sponsored legislation for public land selloff and opposed the designation of the beloved Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. Now, an overwhelming 71% of New Mexicans oppose his nomination. Adding insult to injury, Mr. Pearce has also explicitly committed to ‘reverse this trend of public ownership of lands’—a statement which he has refused to disavow in the nomination hearings.
“Public stewardship is essential for the survival of America’s most beautiful places and the communities that depend on them. By confirming Mr. Pearce, the Senate has ignored the evidence he has no intention to do so. Not to mention their disregard for the widespread opposition to his nomination across this country, from outdoor businesses, hunters and anglers, veterans, hikers, Tribal leaders, environmental organizations, editorial boards and the broader electorate. Senators who supported him have lost sight of this core principle of our nation.
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks represents over 5,000 current, former, and retired employees and volunteers of the National Park Service, with over 50,000 collective years of stewardship of America’s most precious natural and cultural resources. Recognized as the Voices of Experience, the Coalition educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation and protection of the National Park System, and mission-related programs of the National Park Service. More information can be found at https://protectnps.org
Source: Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks