Government Executive

“The administration is trying to reorient its focus, but it needs the tools to do that,” said Tim Whitehouse, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and a former senior attorney for EPA’s enforcement division. “It needs the enforcement officers, ...

Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, predominantly in the Western United States, cover nearly 250 million acres or about 10% of the land in the U.S. But, conserving public lands depends on the White House empowering federal employees at the land management agencies. Chandra ...

With lofty proclamations and admirable ambition, the Biden administration set its sights on preserving 30% of American lands and waters by 2030. In order to meet the goals of its America the Beautiful plan, which is part of the worldwide “30 by 30” conservation initiative, the ...

The report did not win unanimous plaudits, however, with groups like the Union of Concerned Scientists and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility saying it was too broad and failed to detail how agencies should protect their employees or adjudicate misconduct. “This report is ...

Nearing the end of its first year, the Biden administration is starting down the same path as the Trump administration by letting unconfirmed lower officials manage key bureaus in the Interior Department. As under Trump, actions by these quasi-acting agency heads are now potentially  ...