The US Senate may have confirmed David L. Bernhardt’s nomination to be US Interior secretary by a 56-41 vote on Apr. 11, but it looks as if congressional Democrats don’t plan to give him a friendly welcome, even though two in the Senate (Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Krysten Sinema of Arizona) cast aye votes along with the Republicans and Independent Angus S. King Jr. of Maine.
Interior’s Office of Inspector General is investigating conflict of interest and other allegations suspected during the time he was deputy secretary. It began the inquiry in response to seven complaints, Deputy Inspector General Mary L. Kendall confirmed in an Apr. 15 letter to US Sen. Ronald L. Wyden (D-Ore.) and Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY).
“This is exactly why I wanted a delay in Bernhardt’s consideration. We now have an Interior secretary who has been on the job for one full business day and is already under investigation,” Wyden said. “With Bernhardt’s track record and the number of allegations against him, it’s no surprise. At least now, the American people will finally get the answers they deserve.”
He and Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Ha.) each requested the investigation about allegations that, as deputy secretary, Bernhardt blocked a US Fish & Wildlife Service assessment of toxic pesticides’ effects on endangered species.
“I am concerned that the secretary put his own interests, and those of his clients in the oil and gas industry, above the department’s own career scientists,” Hirono said on learning of the inquiry. “This new investigation by the deputy inspector general will get to the bottom of what happened so that we can hold the secretary accountable.”
She sent her own letter to Kendall on Apr. 3 which was signed by six more Senate Democrats.
Grijalva’s invitation
On the House side, meanwhile, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) sent Bernhardt a letter inviting him to testify on May 15 on DOI’s policies and priorities, as well as issues raised by recent schedule and record-keeping questions. The letter followed several months of correspondence and discussions between the committee’s staff and Bernhardt’s office.
“Sec. Bernhardt has been running the Interior Department for 4 months now and it is long past time for him to appear before this committee,” Grijalva said.
“While a private meeting with the secretary would have been welcome in January, February, or March, it’s time for him to appear before all members of this committee,” Grijalva said. “Explaining how he oversees billions of dollars of taxpayer money, as well as his conduct in office, is part of his job and he needs to do it.”
