(WO) – The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has approved the nomination of former Congressman Steve Pearce to serve as director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), advancing the nomination to the full Senate for consideration.
The Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) welcomed the committee’s 11–9 vote, saying the agency needs stable leadership to oversee federal lands and resources, including oil and natural gas development.
“BLM needs a leader in place to operate at its highest capacity and carry out its vital mission,” said Dan Naatz, IPAA executive vice president and chief policy officer. Naatz said Pearce’s experience in Congress and representing New Mexico gives him familiarity with the agency’s multiple-use mandate for managing federal lands.
The BLM oversees leasing, permitting and management of energy resources across millions of acres of federal land and plays a central role in regulating oil and gas development on public lands in the United States. Pearce’s nomination will now move to the full Senate for a confirmation vote.
