“Interior Secretary David Bernhardt violated the Constitution and federal laws by reappointing acting directors to public lands agencies, a new federal lawsuit charges.
The lawsuit targets Bernhardt’s decision to add “exercising the authority of director” to the titles of Bureau of Land Management Deputy Director for Policy and Programs William Perry Pendley and National Park Service Deputy Director of Operations David Vela.
The plaintiffs — Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and Western Watersheds Project — warned Bernhardt last month that they would sue if he issued “illegal redelegations” keeping Pendley and Vela in the two Senate-confirmed positions.”
