Thanks for the update! I sent a letter a while ago but will send a reminder. I used another argument that MTJP provided a while ago: that Steve Pearce makes no economic sense:
I am writing to express my opposition to the nomination of Steve Pearce as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The nomination of Steve Pearce to head the BLM sends an unambiguous message that the Trump administration intends to dismantle and privatize public lands. The facts about Steve Pearce’s opposition to public lands and his support for the sale of our public lands are well-known. I would like to make the economic argument for preserving public lands.
Per new analysis by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters:
* Generates $128 billion/year in economic activity
* Supports >900,000 jobs
* Pours ~$6 billion/year in tax revenue into the US Treasury
* Contributes to the physical and mental health of Americans (priceless)
Federal lands and waters are foundational to our nation’s $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy. Of the ~5 million American jobs created by outdoor recreation, one out of five depend on federal public lands.
Compare those numbers to the value generated by extractive industries on public lands and waters:
* In FY2023, the BLM reported that their lands generated ~$8.5 billion from oil and gas. (The BLM manages ~245 million acres of public lands, making it responsible for a significant portion of all federal lands.)
* Per an analysis by Jim Pattiz (More Than Just Parks), the combined value of oil/gas, mining, coal, and timber extraction on all federal public lands is ~$40 billion/year. Those industries also provide a fraction of the employment of public lands and can destroy the value of the land for outdoor recreation (link below).
Thanks to outdoor recreation, a single parcel of public land or water can produce near-inexhaustible returns. A hiker can visit a national park hundreds of times. An angler can pass on their passion to children and grandchildren. With each entry, visitors directly pay the federal government, spend money in gateway communities, support manufacturing and retail businesses, and generate tax revenue. When properly managed, our federal public lands and waters can support outdoor recreation and the associated economic activity for generations with little environmental impact.
If the same parcel of public land or water were used to extract a resource such as oil, gas, or minerals, the activity would also yield returns. The resources are, however, finite. When the oil, gas, or minerals are gone, so are the associated jobs, income, and tax revenues. Furthermore, the land may require remediation before it is fit for other uses or may never return as a revenue-generating asset.
On America’s balance sheet, outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters is a sustainable, appreciating asset. It delivers compounding returns for our economy, supports public health, and safeguards opportunities for future generations.
There is no economic justification for Steve Pearce's advocacy of selling off our public lands to developers or leasing them for development, which could destroy their value for outdoor recreation. The only reason to sell those lands is that the Trump administration and Congress value developers/corporations over the American people. Is that the message your colleagues in the Senate want to send?
For all those reasons I oppose Mr. Pearce’s nomination as Director of the BLM.
Another amazing piece by Jim and More Than Just Parks! You all are doing a great job. If Jim didn't give you enough background information. The national public lands defense coalition has pulled together a document with talking points, links to polling and all the opinion piece opposing this horrible nominee -
Thank you so much for sharing this information! I shared it over on my Bluesky page too. I live in a blue state but I’m still going to call my senators.
Pearce isn't the first to be nominated and or confirmed for these bulldozer clearing protections for obsessed money grabbing non-constitutional loyalist.
Do you really think the midterms with the hope of a democratic majority seated in Jan of 2027 can undo and in some cases permanent harm that has been happening for over a year?
Your Nokings isn't working.
People have only 2 options. A face to face protest in DC not in the tens of thousands but a million just like in inauguration of Obama, Million Man March, Martin Luther Kings speech at the Capitol. Where are the cat hat women? People need to take their protest to the Capitol demanding the leader of the executive branch has to go or they will go instead. It's a 2 for 1. . When you get in that voting boot, you decide if you want treat them like they treated us with not just unfulfilled promises, but destruction.
The 2nd is economic boycotting that's never going to happen in volume and duration. This is a convenience consumer obsessed modern society.
President Trump has nominated former New Mexico Republican Congressman Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with a confirmation hearing set for February 25, 2026. Pearce, a supporter of increased energy extraction and selling public lands, faces criticism from conservation groups but is supported by industry stakeholders.
Conservation Lands Foundation
Conservation Lands Foundation
+3
Key Details on the 2026 BLM Nomination:
Nominee: Steve Pearce, a seven-term Republican congressman from New Mexico and former chair of the state's Republican Party.
Role: Director of the Bureau of Land Management, overseeing 245 million acres of public land.
Confirmation Status: A Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing is scheduled for February 25, 2026.
Background & Criticism: Pearce has a history of advocating for the divestment and sale of public lands, as well as reducing the size of national monuments, such as the Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument.
Support: The Public Lands Council and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association support his nomination, citing his experience with Western land issues.
The Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society
+5
The nomination is a key part of the administration's efforts to advance an "energy dominance" agenda, with Pearce expected to focus on increasing oil and gas development on federal lands.
Thanks for the update! I sent a letter a while ago but will send a reminder. I used another argument that MTJP provided a while ago: that Steve Pearce makes no economic sense:
I am writing to express my opposition to the nomination of Steve Pearce as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The nomination of Steve Pearce to head the BLM sends an unambiguous message that the Trump administration intends to dismantle and privatize public lands. The facts about Steve Pearce’s opposition to public lands and his support for the sale of our public lands are well-known. I would like to make the economic argument for preserving public lands.
Per new analysis by the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters:
* Generates $128 billion/year in economic activity
* Supports >900,000 jobs
* Pours ~$6 billion/year in tax revenue into the US Treasury
* Contributes to the physical and mental health of Americans (priceless)
Federal lands and waters are foundational to our nation’s $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy. Of the ~5 million American jobs created by outdoor recreation, one out of five depend on federal public lands.
Compare those numbers to the value generated by extractive industries on public lands and waters:
* In FY2023, the BLM reported that their lands generated ~$8.5 billion from oil and gas. (The BLM manages ~245 million acres of public lands, making it responsible for a significant portion of all federal lands.)
* Per an analysis by Jim Pattiz (More Than Just Parks), the combined value of oil/gas, mining, coal, and timber extraction on all federal public lands is ~$40 billion/year. Those industries also provide a fraction of the employment of public lands and can destroy the value of the land for outdoor recreation (link below).
Thanks to outdoor recreation, a single parcel of public land or water can produce near-inexhaustible returns. A hiker can visit a national park hundreds of times. An angler can pass on their passion to children and grandchildren. With each entry, visitors directly pay the federal government, spend money in gateway communities, support manufacturing and retail businesses, and generate tax revenue. When properly managed, our federal public lands and waters can support outdoor recreation and the associated economic activity for generations with little environmental impact.
If the same parcel of public land or water were used to extract a resource such as oil, gas, or minerals, the activity would also yield returns. The resources are, however, finite. When the oil, gas, or minerals are gone, so are the associated jobs, income, and tax revenues. Furthermore, the land may require remediation before it is fit for other uses or may never return as a revenue-generating asset.
On America’s balance sheet, outdoor recreation on federal public lands and waters is a sustainable, appreciating asset. It delivers compounding returns for our economy, supports public health, and safeguards opportunities for future generations.
There is no economic justification for Steve Pearce's advocacy of selling off our public lands to developers or leasing them for development, which could destroy their value for outdoor recreation. The only reason to sell those lands is that the Trump administration and Congress value developers/corporations over the American people. Is that the message your colleagues in the Senate want to send?
For all those reasons I oppose Mr. Pearce’s nomination as Director of the BLM.
Thanks fighting the good fight with us Lyn!
Another amazing piece by Jim and More Than Just Parks! You all are doing a great job. If Jim didn't give you enough background information. The national public lands defense coalition has pulled together a document with talking points, links to polling and all the opinion piece opposing this horrible nominee -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gz14C0o26mhpabRhB4A-PHebjMDkrjebxGvdHwKHotc/edit?tab=t.0
Thanks Michael!
This is horrifying. I will call Senators.
This guy looks like he enjoys yelling at kids and calls trees "a nuisance".... emails sent.
Thanks guys
Thank you for setting it up to easily send those emails!
My New Mexico senators won’t confirm. I did not like him here in New Mexico and I sure do not want him on a national level either.
Many Thanks for setting this up in a way that makes it easy for others to act!
Just FYI,
For North Carolina's Senator, Thom Tillis, the staffer who handles his email left his position, so the email will reply to call directly.
I'm working on an updated email and will post once received.
Thanks for flagging that! I'll try to find an alternative email.
Do not appoint this man. He is a lying,scheming politician who will sell the land to developers.
Spread this far and wide
If we do nothing to stop this confirmation, we'll be had 🤑
Thank you so much for sharing this information! I shared it over on my Bluesky page too. I live in a blue state but I’m still going to call my senators.
Done ✔️ and thank you for keeping us informed. This cannot happen.
Pearce isn't the first to be nominated and or confirmed for these bulldozer clearing protections for obsessed money grabbing non-constitutional loyalist.
Do you really think the midterms with the hope of a democratic majority seated in Jan of 2027 can undo and in some cases permanent harm that has been happening for over a year?
Your Nokings isn't working.
People have only 2 options. A face to face protest in DC not in the tens of thousands but a million just like in inauguration of Obama, Million Man March, Martin Luther Kings speech at the Capitol. Where are the cat hat women? People need to take their protest to the Capitol demanding the leader of the executive branch has to go or they will go instead. It's a 2 for 1. . When you get in that voting boot, you decide if you want treat them like they treated us with not just unfulfilled promises, but destruction.
The 2nd is economic boycotting that's never going to happen in volume and duration. This is a convenience consumer obsessed modern society.
YOU WANT ALL THE CORRUPTION ? TO STOP, BUT NOBODY IS REMOVING THE TWO MAIN, CANCER'S FROM THE WHITEHOUSE.....
TRYMP AND JD VANCE......
smdh 🤦🤬 BULLSHITERY.....
President Trump has nominated former New Mexico Republican Congressman Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with a confirmation hearing set for February 25, 2026. Pearce, a supporter of increased energy extraction and selling public lands, faces criticism from conservation groups but is supported by industry stakeholders.
Conservation Lands Foundation
Conservation Lands Foundation
+3
Key Details on the 2026 BLM Nomination:
Nominee: Steve Pearce, a seven-term Republican congressman from New Mexico and former chair of the state's Republican Party.
Role: Director of the Bureau of Land Management, overseeing 245 million acres of public land.
Confirmation Status: A Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing is scheduled for February 25, 2026.
Background & Criticism: Pearce has a history of advocating for the divestment and sale of public lands, as well as reducing the size of national monuments, such as the Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument.
Support: The Public Lands Council and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association support his nomination, citing his experience with Western land issues.
The Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society
+5
The nomination is a key part of the administration's efforts to advance an "energy dominance" agenda, with Pearce expected to focus on increasing oil and gas development on federal lands.