Pendley
Ejected recently due to a U.S Court decision, William Perry Pendley served unlawfully as Montana’s Democratic governor, Steve Bullock, brought a case claiming that Pendley’s service was unconstitutional, US district judge Brian Morris ruled two weeks ago that Pendley had “served unlawfully” for the last 424 days, prohibited him from acting as director and suggested that his decisions during his tenure be thrown out or reversed. tenure.
It really should.
In an interview with the Powell Tribune, Pendley said the court ruling has changed little for him as he stays at the department by virtue of his official title as one of the department’s two deputy directors.
“I’m still here, I’m still running the bureau,” Pendley told the outlet. “I have always been, from day one.” Pendley has said he has no intention of leaving his post after a US district court judge deemed his tenure and ongoing occupation of the position illegal.
Perry has served as director of the BLM since July 2019, when the interior secretary, David Bernhardt, temporarily authorized him to the post. Pendley, who had served as the head of BLM for over a year, was only nominated to officially fill the position this summer, but the nomination was withdrawn shortly thereafter. Pendley has a long history of opposing federal ownership of public lands, and the entire Democratic caucus planned to oppose him. Pendley has been particularly obsessed with wild horses calling them "the greatest threat" to public lands and launching what has been called an extermination plan by many advocates.
Pendley has a long history of not giving any thought to heeding protocol or due process, and his obstinate stance in recent events is proof of that. His words are not now, nor have ever been, that of a man worthy of leadership or management.
The courts are now figuring out if all actions undertaken during Pendley’s 424 days atop the agency are now subject to legal challenge. Those include oil and gas leasing decisions and, potentially, a reorganization of the bureau under President Donald Trump according to legal filings.
This continues a revolving door of heads of BLM that have done nothing to maintain cohesion, order, or do anything for our public lands and wild horses. Our court system is important.
WHE will be addressing the damage left in Pendley's wake. The damage includes the Adoption Incentive Program that has created a slaughter subsidy for thousands of wild horses and internal policy changes to the way the agency to the way the agency handles NEPA for roundups.
Read more about Pendley by clicking HERE