FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Contact:
Joanna Citron Day, (240) 247-3081, [email protected]
Veteran Interior Department Attorney Tony Irish Joins PEER as Senior Counsel
Washington, DC — Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) today announced that Tony Irish, a longtime Department of the Interior attorney with more than two decades of experience in federal administrative law and government oversight, has joined the organization as Senior Counsel. Irish will support PEER’s legal and investigatory work at a time of heightened concern over transparency, accountability, and the lawful use of federal authority.
Irish spent 21 years at the Department of the Interior, most recently serving as Associate Solicitor for General Law, where he advised senior leadership on a wide range of legal and policy issues. Over the course of his career, he developed deep expertise in key areas of federal administrative law, including the Freedom of Information Act, the Federal Records Act, the Privacy Act, appropriations law, discovery, and congressional oversight.
He also has extensive knowledge of Interior’s internal structure, delegations of authority, and decision-making processes — experience that will strengthen PEER’s ability to analyze and challenge agency actions.
“Tony brings an unmatched understanding of how the Department of the Interior operates from the inside,” said PEER Executive Director Timothy Whitehouse. “His expertise in transparency laws and agency decision-making will be critical as PEER continues to push for accountability and ensure that public resources are managed in the public interest.”
Before attending Georgetown University Law Center’s evening program and becoming an attorney, Irish began his career at Interior as a financial management specialist, giving him a unique perspective on both the legal and operational sides of federal agencies. He later served as a staff attorney and Assistant Solicitor in the Branch of General Legal Services, where he handled a wide range of complex legal matters.
“Tony’s deep experience with FOIA, appropriations law, and congressional oversight comes at an especially important moment,” said Joanna Citron Day, PEER’s General Counsel. “His ability to navigate complex legal frameworks and uncover how decisions are actually being made inside agencies will significantly strengthen PEER’s work.”
Prior to joining the Department of the Interior, Irish worked as a contractor at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
“I am excited to join PEER and continue working on issues of transparency and accountability in government,” said Irish. “Public service depends on trust, and that trust is built on openness, lawful decision-making, and the ability of employees to raise concerns without fear.”
Irish resides in Silver Spring, Maryland with his children and enjoys spending time at Catoctin Mountain Park, which he considers one of the hidden gems of the National Park System.
PEER protects public employees who protect our environment. We are a service organization for environmental and public health professionals, land managers, scientists, enforcement officers and other civil servants dedicated to upholding environmental laws and values. We work with current and former federal, state, local and tribal employees.