Bernhardt Archives - Page 2 of 2 - PEER.org

Bernhardt

Senior Counsel

Jeff serves as Senior Counsel to PEER, where he specializes in civil service, scientific integrity, and whistleblower protection issues. Jeff was PEER’s Executive Director from 1997 to 2019 and its Pacific Director from 2019 to 2025. Previously, he was the Policy Director and a staff attorney at the Government Accountability Project, representing whistleblowers from both the public and private sectors. Before coming to DC, Jeff worked in California state government for 17 years, mostly in the State Legislature as counsel to various committees where he drafted hundreds of laws on topics ranging from energy conservation to the rights of employed inventors. Jeff served stints as a deputy district attorney and an appellate court clerk. He is a graduate of the California Correctional Officers Academy.

BLOG: Sliming Lincoln’s Memorial

by Jeff Ruch | May 7, 2020
Interior Secretary Bernhardt ordered the Lincoln Memorial closed so that President Trump could give an interview on the current pandemic ...

PEERMail: Interior Reorganizing to Better Quash Dissent

by PEER | May 16, 2019
There are different bureaus with different missions that sometimes conflict. A unitary command would prevent these conflicts from surfacing ...

PEERMail: PFAS Action is Inaction

by PEER | April 1, 2019
Nowhere are the consequences of the Trump Administration’s purge of scientists and the stacking of government positions with industry lobbyist more apparent than in its handling of calls to regulate PFAS chemicals- or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances ...

Bernhardt Brags of Interior Ethics Turnaround

by PEER | February 4, 2019
Claims Progress in Stemming “Avalanche of Ethical Misconduct” across All Bureaus ...