willens, todd CoS
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</font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">see IPAA
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</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div><div><a href="https://www.nrdc.org/trump-watch/enemy-everglades-and-endangered-species-returns-interior-department"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">https://www.nrdc.org/trump-watch/enemy-everglades-and-endangered-species-returns-interior-department</font></a></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="body-content" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.875em; margin: 0px 0px 40px;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">the Trump administration has named yet another industry-friendly political appointee to an environmental agency: Todd Willens, who joined the U.S. Department of the Interior earlier this month as an assistant deputy secretary. His name should ring alarm bells. During his previous stint in the same role within the George W. Bush administration, Willens orchestrated <a href="http://amp.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article160754909.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 0.5s ease 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">the removal of Everglades National Park</a> from the United Nations’ list of endangered World Heritage Sites</span>. Fortunately, the park was reinstated in 2010. <b>Willens then spent six years as the chief of staff to Representative Steve Pearce, a Republican from New Mexico, who earned a shameful <a href="http://scorecard.lcv.org/" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 0.5s ease 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">0 percent rating</a> last year from the League of Conservation Voters</b>. Earlier in his career, Willens was the<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"> legislative director to former congressman Richard Pombo, </span>who spent years attacking the Endangered Species Act. In the private sector, some of Willens’ lowlights include his time with the owner of the <b>late Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, <a href="https://www.legistorm.com/pro_news/view/id/1973.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; transition: all 0.5s ease 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">lobbying against animal welfare protections</a>.</b></p></span></font><div class="index-related gray-links" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 20px 0px 70px;"><h2 class="index-relatedtitle" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-transform: uppercase; line-height: 1.25em; letter-spacing: 0.03em; font-weight: 400; margin: 20px 0px 10px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">RELATED</font></h2><div class="view-content stack" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="index-relateditem" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><section class="teaser-resource" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><h4 class="teaser-resourcetitle" style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 20px 0px 5px; font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/nrdc/zinke-fast-tracks-oil-and-gas-exploration-public-lands" style="box-sizing: inherit; 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margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 4px 0px; float: left; border-right: 1px solid rgb(225, 225, 225);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">By </font><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline-block;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /><li style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: outside none; line-height: 1.68em; margin: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/sharon-buccino" style="box-sizing: inherit; 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border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(225, 225, 225); overflow: hidden; margin: 14px 0px 0px;"><div class="doc-type doc-col" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 4px 0px; float: left; border-right: 1px solid rgb(225, 225, 225);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Story</font></div><div class="doc-date doc-col" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 4px 0px; float: left; border-right: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">February 10, 2017</font></div></div></div></section></div></div></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></div></div></div><div><div id="person_bio_block" class="box" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border: 1px solid rgb(217, 219, 223); border-radius: 4px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 221) 0px 1px 2px 0px;"><div class="padded" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px;"><ul class="col-list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /><li style="margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline-block; width: 227.354px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3em; vertical-align: top;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Todd Dorcey Willens</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></li> <li style="margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline-block; width: 227.354px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3em; vertical-align: top;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;">Gender:</strong> Male <img src="https://www.legistorm.com/images/small-Boy.gif" alt="Male" width="12" height="12" style="border: none; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" /></li> <li style="margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline-block; width: 227.354px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3em; vertical-align: top;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;">Hometown:</strong> Stockton, Calif.</li></ul></div><div class="padded" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px;"><ul class="col-list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: none;"><li style="margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 0px; display: inline-block; width: 227.354px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3em; vertical-align: top;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></font></font></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></font></font></font></font></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" size="4"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></font></font></font><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style=""><a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Todd_Willens" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="Sourcewatch" title="Sourcewatch" src="https://www.legistorm.com/images/social_icons/people/29.png?rand=03222022" style="border: none; display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" /></a></td><td style="vertical-align: middle;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Todd_Willens" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Sourcewatch</a></strong></td></tr></tbody></table></li></ul></div><h5 class="padded" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px; font-style: inherit;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Family:</font></font></font></font></h5><div id="marital_block" class="padded" style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px;"><div class="historytext" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Married: </span><a href="https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/115244/Morna_Willens.html" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">Morna Willens</a><span class="htext3" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> lobbyist</span></font></font></font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 50px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">4 children</font></font></font></p></div></div></div><div id="contact_info_block" class="padded" style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px;"><ul class="col-list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style: none;"><h5 style="margin: 0px; padding: 20px 0px 0px; font-style: inherit;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" font-style="font-style" inherit="inherit" background-color="background-color" rgb="rgb">e</span><span style="background-color: rgb(245, 248, 255); font-family: " times="Times" new="New" roman="Roman" font-size="font-size" large="large" font-style="font-style" inherit="inherit">ducation</span></font></font></h5></ul></div></div><div id="education_block" class="box" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border: 1px solid rgb(217, 219, 223); border-radius: 4px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 221) 0px 1px 2px 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><ul class="bullet-list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px 30px; list-style: none;"><li id="edu_5528" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; line-height: 1.4em;"><div class="fetch_data" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.legistorm.com/organization/summary/32044/University_of_California_Los_Angeles.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">University of California, Los Angeles</a> - BA, history (1992-1994)</font></font></font></p></div></li></ul></div><div id="employment_block" class="box" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border: 1px solid rgb(217, 219, 223); border-radius: 4px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 221) 0px 1px 2px 0px;"><h2 style="background: rgb(245, 248, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 10px; font-style: inherit; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(217, 219, 223); position: relative; line-height: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Employment History</font></font></font></h2><ul class="bullet-list" style="margin: 0px; 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padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Acting Chief of Staff</font></font></font></p></div></li><li id="employment_74723" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; line-height: 1.4em;"><div class="fetch_data" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><a target="" href="https://www.legistorm.com/organization/summary/69383/U_S_Department_of_the_Interior.html" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-line: none;">U.S. Department of the Interior</a><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> (July 2017-Jan. 2019)</span>
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<a target="" href="https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/51573/Richard_William_Pombo.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Rep. Richard Pombo (<strong class="r" style="">R</strong>-CA)</a></font></font></font></p><p class="understated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Senior Policy Director</font></font></font></p></div></li><li id="employment_74726" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; line-height: 1.4em;"><div class="fetch_data" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="" href="https://www.legistorm.com/organization/summary/35077/Feld_Entertainment_Inc.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Feld Entertainment Inc.</a> (Jan. 2000-Jan. 2002)</font></font></font></p><p class="understated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Vice President, Government Relations</font></font></font></p></div></li><li id="congressional_109145" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; line-height: 1.4em;"><div class="fetch_data" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="" href="https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/51573/Richard_William_Pombo.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Rep. Richard Pombo (<strong class="r" style="">R</strong>-CA)</a> (Jan. 1995-Dec. 2000)</font></font></font></p><p class="understated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Various positions up to Legislative Director</font></font></font></p></div></li></ul><div id="autogenerated_history_block" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><h5 class="padded" style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="hint" data-hint="This congressional history data is automatically generated from our congressional salary data. LegiStorm's editors have manually compiled employment histories on hundreds of key staffers and are continuing to add more records each day." style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Auto-generated from salary data:</font></span></font></font></h5><ul class="bullet-list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px 30px; list-style: none;"><li id="autogen_0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; line-height: 1.4em;"><div class="fetch_data" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.legistorm.com/organization/summary/96837/House_Natural_Resources_Committee.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">House Natural Resources Committee</a> (Oct. 1, 2006-Oct. 7, 2006)</font></font></font></p><p class="understated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Last title: Senior Policy Director</font></font></font></p></div></li><li id="autogen_1" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; line-height: 1.4em;"><div class="fetch_data" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/51573/Richard_Pombo.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Former Rep. Richard Pombo (<strong class="r" style="">R</strong>-CA)</a> (Jan. 1, 2001-Jan. 2, 2001)</font></font></font></p><p class="understated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Last title: Legislative Director</font></font></font></p></div></li></ul></div></div><div id="organizations_block" class="box" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; border: 1px solid rgb(217, 219, 223); border-radius: 4px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 221) 0px 1px 2px 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><h2 style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(217, 219, 223); background: rgb(245, 248, 255); position: relative; line-height: 1em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><span class="hint" data-hint="We use any available information to show associated organizations. This may include former associations. Titles shown are the highest known position achieved with the organization." style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(170, 170, 170);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Associated Organizations</font></span></font></font></h2><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong style="display: block; padding: 10px 10px 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Board membership:</font></strong></font></font><ul class="bullet-list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 10px 10px 0px 30px; list-style: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></font><li id="person_org_13314" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; line-height: 1.4em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></font></font></font></font></font></font></font><div class="fetch_data" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Saddle Rock East Master Homeowner's Association</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p><p class="understated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Board Member</font></p><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div></li><li id="person_org_13313" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside; line-height: 1.4em;"><div class="fetch_data" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a target="" href="https://www.legistorm.com/organization/summary/109562/International_Elephant_Foundation.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" color="#000000">International Elephant Foundation</font></a></p><p class="understated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="">Advisory Board Member</font></p></div></li></ul></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://westernvaluesproject.org/sec-bernhardt-and-interiors-latest-effort-to-skirt-congressional-oversight/">https://westernvaluesproject.org/sec-bernhardt-and-interiors-latest-effort-to-skirt-congressional-oversight/</a></font></font></font></div><div><div class="basic-heading" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 50px 0px 26px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="basic-heading-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px 40px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 1080px;"><div class="postmeta" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 14px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 2em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> September 12, 2019 by <a href="https://westernvaluesproject.org/author/yetta-stein/" title="Posts by Yetta Stein" rel="author" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">Yetta Stein</a></font></p></div><h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 35px; line-height: normal; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; overflow-wrap: break-word; max-width: 860px; letter-spacing: -0.02em; font-weight: normal;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Sec. Bernhardt and Interior’s Latest Effort to Skirt Congressional Oversight</font></h1></div></div><div class="basic-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 85px 40px 20px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 820px;"><h3 style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239); box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px 0px 15px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: center;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Chief of Staff Todd Willens Finds Excuse To Potentially Illegally Cancel Congressional Oversight Trips </span></strong><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></font></h3><p style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 2em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Interior Department chief of staff Todd Willens has reportedly canceled Interior’s sponsorship of congressional oversight trips, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">NBC News</em> <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-agency-halt-house-oversight-trips-amid-complaint-over-staff-n1052856" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">reported</a>, amounting to a potentially illegal move. The decision comes after an alleged confrontation between an Interior staff member and an aide to the House Appropriations Committee. </font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 2em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><span style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239);">“We’ve seen this Administration go to great lengths to avoid oversight and scrutiny, but this represents a new low,” said </span><strong style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239); box-sizing: border-box;">Jayson O’Neill, Deputy Director for Western Values Project</strong><span style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239);">. “</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Either Bernhardt and his underlings aren’t competent enough to manage congressional field visits or they’re just trying to stonewall necessary congressional oversight functions</span><span style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239);">. Now more than ever Congress needs to vigorously perform oversight to ensure our public servants are protecting our public lands.” </span></font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 2em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">The decision to halt all of Interior’s sponsorship of House oversight trips is potentially illegal, according to a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/79th-congress/session-2/c79s2ch753.pdf" target="blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">law</a> that says some funds Congress appropriates to federal agencies must be made available to scrutinize just exactly how appropriated money is being used. </font></p><p style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 2em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>This isn’t the first attempt by Secretary Bernhardt’s Interior to undermine Congressional oversight and outside scrutiny:</b></font></p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 35px 36px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 18px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 2em; position: relative;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Prior to his abrupt departure to work for a foreign oil corporation, then-Assistant Land and Minerals Management Secretary <a href="https://departmentofinfluence.org/person/joseph-joe-balash/" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">Joe Balash</a> sent a letter to both McCollum and Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/459217-interior-threatens-to-withhold-jobs-in-lawmakers-districts-after" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">threatening</a> to withhold “departmental resources” for their oversight efforts regarding DOI’s plan to relocate the BLM. </font></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 15px; line-height: 2em; position: relative;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">DOI’s Inspector General <a href="https://westernvaluesproject.org/inspector-general-confirms-investigation-as-groups-uncover-more-evidence-of-political-interference-at-interior/" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">recently launched an investigation</a> into the practice of political appointees at Interior to interfering with the release of documents in response to FOIA requests.</font></li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 2em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Just yesterday, <a href="https://departmentofinfluence.org/person/william-perry-pendley/" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">William Pendley</a>, Acting BLM Director and anti-public lands zealot, <a href="https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2019/09/10/bureau-land-management-relocation-colorado/" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">failed</a> to give a clear rationale concerning Bernhardt’s plan to relocate the BLM in front of the House Natural Resources Committee. Instead, he spent much of the hearing <a href="https://www.cpr.org/2019/09/10/acting-blm-director-defends-move-to-grand-junction-in-front-of-house-committee-and-says-he-loves-public-lands/" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">defending</a> his call to <a href="https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/pendley-s-record-is-enough-of-a-reason-to-oppose/article_1cbc1401-ed70-5fe0-8a41-7031b3993b9e.html" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">sell all public lands</a> and his <a href="https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/congressional-hearing-democrats-and-tribes-remain-opposed-blm-move#stream/0" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">disparaging</a> remarks towards Native Americans. </font></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 25px; overflow-wrap: break-word; line-height: 2em;"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" style=""><b style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239);">Willens is a long-time D.C. operative who has, throughout his career, <a href="http://departmentofinfluence.org/person/todd-willens/" target="blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">continually</a> utilized the lobbyist revolving door</b><span style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239);">. Willens has his own </span><a href="https://departmentofinfluence.org/person/todd-willens/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239); box-sizing: border-box; transition: color 0.1s linear 0s; text-decoration-line: none;">history</a><span style="background-color: rgb(242, 241, 239);"> with congressional staff trips: </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">he was among a group of congressional staffers who visited the Mariana Islands on a trip paid by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.</span></font></p></div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></font></font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">no lnx</font></font></font></font></font></font></div><div><a href="https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/514623-interior-watchdog-top-officials-misled-congress-on-blm-relocation/">https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/514623-interior-watchdog-top-officials-misled-congress-on-blm-relocation/</a></div><div>
</div><div>top Interior Department officials misled Congress when they claimed high office rent in Washington, D.C., was a factor in the need to move the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to a new headquarters in Colorado, the agency’s internal watchdog found.</div><div>
</div><div>A report on Tuesday from Interior’s Office of Inspector General found that two officials overplayed the cost of BLM’s M Street SE lease near Nationals Park as a motivating factor in the move, as the agency already had plans underway to return to office space owned by the government.</div><div>
</div><div>Joseph Balash, a former assistant secretary for land and minerals management who now works in the oil industry, an<b>d BLM acting Director William Perry Pendley,</b> whose tenure with the agency is the subject of a lawsuit, are implicated in the report.</div><div>
</div><div>Both men wrote in correspondence with Congress that BLM would be unable to stay in its existing M Street SE office because the cost would exceed the $50 per square foot limit set by the government.</div><div>
</div><div>The report found the claims were “misleading” and said that “the future lease cost of 20 M Street was irrelevant.”</div><div>
</div><div>Interior announced in July of last year that it would move more than 200 of BLM’s Washington-based employees to existing offices across the West, while putting nearly 25 of its top-ranking leaders at a new headquarters in Grand Junction, Colo. The move would leave just 61 of BLM’s 10,000 employees in Washington.</div><div>
</div><div><b>The move was considered a victory for Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), who is facing a tight reelection campaign, but it raised the eyebrows of former BLM employees, who questioned why the agency would leave such a small footprint in D.C. and set up shop in a town four hours from any major airport.</b></div><div>
</div><div>But well before Grand Junction was on the drawing board, BLM was already planning to leave its M Street SE space.</div><div>
</div><div>“When we got that lease it was a bargain,” said Steve Ellis, who retired from the highest-ranking career position within BLM in 2016. </div><div>
</div><div>“Since we moved people in there, Nationals Park popped up across the street, the area’s become much more popular and built up. That’s a good thing, but it meant the lease would be cost prohibitive when it ended, so we we’re looking around at options.”</div><div>
</div><div>Rather than pay more than $50 per square foot, the inspector general found evidence from both 2016 and 2017 that the department “had longstanding plans” to move BLM employees either to the Main Interior Building (MIB) or another federal facility.</div><div>
</div><div>“The evidence indicated that the future lease cost of 20 M Street was irrelevant at that point due to the department’s earlier plans to move the BLM into the MIB or another Federal facility. Simply stated, the evidence established that the department never seriously contemplated renewing that lease or moving BLM staff into a new commercial location in the Washington, DC area.”</div><div>
</div><div>Interior’s planning behind the move has long been questioned by members of Congress and other critics.</div><div>
</div><div>“This report makes clear once again that this administration is playing fast and loose with accuracy and the facts to fit their anti-public lands agenda and documents how they misled Congress and the public about their reasons for moving BLM headquarters,” <b>Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) said in a statement, adding that the move had “resulted in a hollowing out of the agency and the loss of a generation of senior leadership.”</b></div><div>
</div><div>A two-page document Interior identified as the cost-benefit analysis for the move found it would be cheaper to rent office space in Grand Junction, but it did not weigh the costs of finding a new lease elsewhere in D.C. or within existing government office space, nor did it evaluate other potential locations.</div><div>
</div><div>“Their analysis really came after the fact,” Ellis said. “The appearance is they had made the decision and then did the analysis.”</div><div>
</div><div>“You can’t just look at it in terms of whether the cost is cheaper to rent in Grand Junction versus D.C. Of course Washington, D.C. costs more to rent — that’s the cost of doing business and of having your leadership in the nation’s capital.”</div><div>
</div><div><b>The inspector general report referred the matter to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, but his office dismissed the report as a byproduct of congressional backlash to the move.</b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">“On this subject matter, it is clear that some politicians weaponized the BLM’s relocation. Their conduct is intimately tied to the creation of this report,”<b> Interior chief of staff Todd Willens wrote to the inspector general, adding, “I consider this matter closed.”</b></span></div><div>
</div><div><b>BLM completed its move to Grand Junction in August, and critics say the disruption has come with a heavy cost.</b></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Reporting from The Hill found that 70 percent of BLM’s Washington employees chose to leave the agency rather than move, while the scattering of staff splits up key teams.</span></div><div>
</div><div>“As this investigation rightfully concludes, the relocation of America’s largest public lands management bureau was based on false pretenses in order to achieve the Trump administration’s objectives of forcing career officials to quit and giving polluting fossil fuel corporations direct access to key officials,” <b>Western Values Projec</b>t, a public lands watchdog group, said in a release.</div><div>
</div><div>“It appears they have accomplished both at the expense of our tax dollars, public lands, and outdoor heritage.”</div><div>
</div><div>TAGS BLM BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT COLORADO CORY GARDNER TOM UDALL WILLIAM PERRY PENDLEY</div><div>The Hill has removed its comment section, as there are many other forums for readers to participate in the conversation. We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.</div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">meh</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></font></font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">no lnx</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></div><div><b>Watchdog finds documents withheld during interior secretary confirmation process</b></div><div>
</div><div>By Gregory Wallace, CNN</div><div>
</div><div>Updated 3:35 PM ET, Tue<b> August 11, 2020</b></div><div>Ex-clients granted requests under acting interior secy.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>Ex-clients granted requests under acting interior secy. 04:46</div><div>(CNN)<b>An Interior Department official ordered documents about David Bernhardt withheld from the public while the Senate considered his nomination to lead the department, the department's inspector general concluded Tuesday.</b></div><div>
</div><div>The documents were due under the Freedom of Information Act to watchdog groups that questioned whether Bernhardt complied with ethics and recusal requirements as deputy secretary, the office he held at the time. A court had ordered the department to review the documents.</div><div>
</div><div>Bernhardt previously led a lobbying office working for fossil fuel and mining companies -- which lease land from and are regulated by the Interior Department. He submitted to ethics officials a three-page recusal list of companies he would not deal with during his first year or so at Interior.</div><div>
</div><div>Interior Department Inspector General Mark Lee Greenblatt wrote in Tuesday's report that a senior attorney at the department met with FOIA officials in February 2019 and directed them "to take all documents related to Bernhardt—addressed to him, sent from him, or referring to him—out of the court-ordered document production related to the FOIA litigation."</div><div> </div><div>State Dept watchdog finds Saudi arms sale was legal but risks to civilians weren't fully assessed]</div><div>
</div><div>The report says the meeting took place the same month Bernhardt was nominated for promotion to the secretary position.</div><div>Toward the end of that month, government attorneys told the court that the monthlong government shutdown and staffing changes had slowed their progress reviewing documents. <b>Western Values Project, which sued for the records, noted that Interior Department work on oil and gas permits continued during the shutdown.</b></div><div><b>
</b></div><div>One attorney told the inspector general that the order to withhold the documents "was because Bernhardt was awaiting his confirmation hearing" and it "was to remain in place until after Bernhardt's confirmation."</div><div>
</div><div>The top Interior career attorney for FOIA issues at the time told investigators that he believed the direction "was not a 'hold off and don't produce anything' direction so much as a 'let's take a hard look at these documents and make appropriate determinations on what to do with them, based on that careful review.' "</div><div>The inspector general did not conclude whether or not the department had properly complied with the court order.</div><div>
</div><div>In a response to the report, Interior Department chief of staff Todd Willens noted that the Justice Department concurred that Interior was complying with the court order. He noted that the documents withheld did not include "a single email, document, or communication from Secretary Bernhardt."</div><div><b>Most of the 253 pages relating to Bernhardt were released seven months after his confirmation,</b> the report says.</div><div>
</div><div>During the time the documents were withheld, CNN reported that the department had developed but not announced a practice of allowing political leadership to weigh in before the release of documents relating to political appointees. The agency later made public a memo outlining the practice.</div></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">=</font></font></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman" /></font></font><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><b>todd D. Willens</b> (Dad/Husband) 3rd degree connection3rd</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></div><div>Government Relations & Strategic Counselor</div><div>Washington, District of Columbia, United States Contact info</div><div>500+ connections</div><div>
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</div><div>More</div><div>AboutAbout</div><div>Todd is a trusted strategic counselor, advisor and leader. His experience and knowledge have provided his employers and clients numerous opportunities in the pursuit of their goals. <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Todd is known and respected for his expertise in federal legislation, policy and regulation in the fields of energy, natural resources conservation, water management, national parks, <b>wildlife management,</b> and m<b>ultiple-use of federal lands. </b>Todd is an expert in creating strategic communication initiatives in support of client's goals and objectives.</span></div><div>
</div><div> Having worked in Washington for over three decades, nearly 25 years of those in the federal government, Todd has broad respect from his peers and colleagues. Todd is a trusted strategic counselor, advisor and leader. His experience and knowledge have provided his employers and clients numerous opportunities in the pursuit of their goals. Todd is known and respected for his expertise in federal legislation, policy and regulation in the fields of energy, natural resources conservation, water management, national parks, wildlife management, and multiple-use of federal lands. Todd is an expert in creating strategic communication initiatives in support of client's goals and objectives. Having worked in Washington for over three decades, nearly 25 years of those in the federal government, Todd has broad respect from his peers and colleagues. …see more</div><div>ActivityActivity</div><div>1,846 followers1,846 followers</div><div>
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</div><div>Follow</div><div>Todd D. hasn't posted latelyTodd D. hasn't posted lately</div><div>Todd D.’s recent posts and comments will be displayed here.Todd D.’s recent posts and comments will be displayed here.</div><div>Show all activity</div><div>ExperienceExperience</div><div>Founding PartnerFounding Partner</div><div><b>Potomac Consulting, </b>LLC · Full-timePotomac Consulting, LLC · Full-time</div><div>Mar 2021 - Present · 1 yr 3 mosMar 2021 - Present · 1 yr 3 mos</div><div>Washington, District of Columbia, United StatesWashington, District of Columbia, United States</div><div><b>Natural Resource Results</b>, LLC logo</div><div>AdvisorAdvisor</div><div>Natural Resource Results, LLC · Full-timeNatural Resource Results, LLC · Full-time</div><div>May 2021 - Present · 1 yr 1 moMay 2021 - Present · 1 yr 1 mo</div><div>Washington, District of Columbia, United StatesWashington, District of Columbia, United States</div><div>U.S. Department of the Interior logo</div><div>U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Department of the Interior</div><div>3 yrs 7 mos3 yrs 7 mos</div><div>Chief Of StaffChief Of Staff</div><div>Jan 2019 - Jan 2021 · 2 yrs 1 moJan 2019 - Jan 2021 · 2 yrs 1 mo</div><div>Washington D.C. Metro AreaWashington D.C. Metro Area</div><div>Associate Deputy Secretary (formerly Assistant)Associate Deputy Secretary (formerly Assistant)</div><div>Jul 2017 - Jan 2019 · 1 yr 7 mosJul 2017 - Jan 2019 · 1 yr 7 mos</div><div>Washington D.C. Metro AreaWashington D.C. Metro Area</div><div>Presidio Trust logo</div><div>Board MemberBoard Member</div><div>Presidio TrustPresidio Trust</div><div>Nov 2017 - Jan 2021 · 3 yrs 3 mosNov 2017 - Jan 2021 · 3 yrs 3 mos</div><div>San Francisco Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area</div><div>National Trust for Historic Preservation logo</div><div>Board MemberBoard Member</div><div>National Trust for Historic PreservationNational Trust for Historic Preservation</div><div>Sep 2017 - Jan 2019 · 1 yr 5 mosSep 2017 - Jan 2019 · 1 yr 5 mos</div><div>Washington, District of Columbia, United StatesWashington, District of Columbia, United States</div><div>Show all 14 experiences</div><div>EducationEducation</div><div>University of California, Los Angeles logo</div><div>University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles</div><div>BA, HistoryBA, History</div><div>1992 - 19941992 - 1994</div><div>VolunteeringVolunteering</div><div>Parent/Booster ClubParent/Booster Club</div><div>Saint John's College High School Crew TeamSaint John's College High School Crew Team</div><div>Aug 2015 - Present · 6 yrs 10 mosAug 2015 - Present · 6 yrs 10 mos</div><div>EducationEducation</div><div>Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies </div><div>West Front Platform SeatingWest Front Platform Seating</div><div>Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural CeremoniesJoint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies</div><div>Dec 2016 - Jan 2017 · 2 mosDec 2016 - Jan 2017 · 2 mos</div><div><b>International Elephant Foundation </b>logo</div><div>Board MemberBoard Member</div><div>International Elephant FoundationInternational Elephant Foundation</div><div>Jan 2001 - Dec 2002 · 1 yr 12 mosJan 2001 - Dec 2002 · 1 yr 12 mos</div><div>EnvironmentEnvironment</div><div>SkillsSkills</div><div>GovernmentGovernment</div><div>· 43· 43</div><div>
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</div><div>Endorsed by 6 colleagues at U.S. Department of the InteriorEndorsed by 6 colleagues at U.S. Department of the Interior</div><div>Legislative RelationsLegislative Relations</div><div>· 32· 32</div><div>
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</div><div>Endorsed by 8 colleagues at U.S. Department of the InteriorEndorsed by 8 colleagues at U.S. Department of the Interior</div><div>Show all 20 skills</div><div>RecommendationsRecommendations</div><div>ReceivedReceived</div><div>GivenGiven</div><div>Nothing to see for nowNothing to see for now</div><div>Recommendations that Todd D. receives will appear here.Recommendations that Todd D. receives will appear here.</div><div>OrganizationsOrganizations</div><div><b>RAMS - Republicans Associated for Mutual Support</b></div><div>Member · Jan 2015 - Present Member · Jan 2015 - Present</div><div>
</div><div>Associated with U.S. House of Representatives - <b>The Honorable Steve Pearce - New Mexico</b>Associated with U.S. House of Representatives - The Honorable Steve Pearce - New Mexico</div><div>Interests</div><div>
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