“Usually when public comments are filed with a federal agency, they are made, well, public. Not so for the Bureau of Land Management, which is demanding that in some cases, such comments only be obtained through the cumbersome Freedom of Information Act. “Ultimately, it’s the ...

“EPA has rolled out a proposal that would require public comments on new regulatory guidance documents and allow petitions for killing old ones. “EPA is trying to use a 19th-century statute giving department heads the right to manage personnel and internal record keeping to ...

“The Interior Department yesterday dismissed criticism that Secretary David Bernhardt may have misused taxpayer funds to tout a massive public lands bill, calling the accusation “frivolous.” The national nonprofit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) ...

“More than two weeks after the U.S. Park Police and other federal law officers forcefully cleared Lafayette Square of protestors, allowing President Donald Trump to pose for pictures with a Bible in hand, the department is under scrutiny from Congress and the public over its tactics ...

“On Thursday, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced that he is co-sponsoring legislation that would ensure whistleblower protections for people who expose the misuse of government funds, intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. His release said the bill is endorsed by the American Civil ...

“The state Department of Environmental Protection has failed to send federal regulators reports about the safety of watersheds in Massachusetts, according to the state auditor. “DEP’s excuses don’t pass the straight-face test,” said Kyla Bennett, director of Public Employees ...

“The multi-trillion-dollar federal spending to address COVID-19, including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 (PPP) create a multitude of opportunities for fraud.  And indeed the SEC and DOJ ...

“Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced Tuesday he is co-sponsoring legislation that would ensure whistleblower protections for people who expose misuse of government funds intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill is endorsed by American Civil Liberties Union, ACORN 8, ...

“Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) today introduced legislation to further prevent insider trading by members of Congress and increase government accountability. The bipartisan TRUST in Congress Act has been endorsed by many key advocacy and government ...

“U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) on Monday introduced the COVID-19 Whistleblower Protection Act, legislation that will ensure whistleblower protections for people who expose misuse of government funds that are ...

“Press release from Congressman Eric Swalwell: Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-15) today introduced legislation to better protect whistleblowers from having their anonymity and safety compromised. Swalwell began drafting the Enhancing Protections for Whistleblower Anonymity Act last year ...

“Montana Sen. Jon Tester (D) today reiterated his demand for the removal of acting Bureau of Land Management Director William Perry Pendley, asserting the Trump administration’s continued reliance on unconfirmed officials “undermines accountability in government.” ...

“Jeff Ruch was paging through the results of a Freedom of Information Act request about a categorical upgrade to Yellowstone’s WiFi infrastructure earlier this year when he came across an exchange that suggested 100 trees had been felled within a recommended wilderness area. The ...

“A new Interior Department move to leave controversial temporary leaders in place indefinitely may violate laws on filling vacancies, legal experts say, and skirts requirements for Senate confirmation. Watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility sued in April, ...

“New regional surges in coronavirus cases forced the Environmental Protection Agency to put on hold some of the earliest planned returns of federal employees to their offices, while the first volunteers at a few other federal agencies are quietly going back to their desks. A ...

“The advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility claimed on Tuesday the Environmental Protection Agency is failing the CDC’s criteria for reopening. “In recent days, EPA has announced it will open regional offices located in Atlanta, Kansas City and Seattle. ...

“Public comment periods begin ending Monday, June 8, for the U.S. Department of Interior’s policy proposal to regulate e-bikes as traditional bikes on non-motorized lands. The policy proposal in August allowed e-bikes access to non-motorized trails 30 days afterward and led to ...

“The acting director of the Bureau of Land Management will remain in his position after the U.S. Department of the Interior extended his tenure despite a lawsuit disputing the appointment. Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Western Watersheds Project filed a ...

“Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts is wrestling with solutions for mosquito-borne illnesses such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV). A coalition consisting of national, state and local nonprofits, with the assistance of 75 legislators, won major ...

“William Perry Pendley will remain in charge of the Bureau of Land Management after the Interior Department took a different approach to extending Pendley’s time at the helm of the agency, possibly due to a pending lawsuit. “The leadership of the BLM will not change,” Interior ...