Pearce confirmed at BLM despite failure to disavow land sales

WASHINGTON D.C. (May 18, 2026) — The Senate voted to confirm Steve Pearce as the new director of the Bureau of Land Management, elevating a past proponent of selling off public lands to lead the agency that manages more acres of public lands than any other. 

In response to the news, Jordan Schreiber, director of government relations at The Wilderness Society, made the following statement: 

“Public lands belong to all of us, protecting wildlife, clean water and the freedom future generations deserve. Given Steve Pearce’s record and performance before the committee, today’s confirmation raises troubling questions about whether those values will guide the Bureau of Land Management in the years ahead. He declined to clearly disavow past efforts to dispose of public lands, yet he has been entrusted with their stewardship. We will watch Steve Pearce’s BLM like a hawk, and look to our leaders in Congress, who say they want to keep public lands in public hands, to aid us in that effort.” 

### 

NEW: 10 things we’re watching at BLM under Steve Pearce 

In Pearce’s hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 25, he was repeatedly pressed—by both Republicans and Democrats—about his long track record of votes and statements in favor of selling or disposing lands managed by agencies like the BLM. He found ways to dodge every question, including by claiming he and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum don't “visualize” large-scale public land sales (notably, without addressing whether they would support such sales). Pearce also downplayed the influence of a BLM director in disposing or selling lands; in fact, federal law allows BLM land disposals under discretionary standards [PDF], and Pearce will now be in prime position to exploit or expand those opportunities.  

Contact: newsmedia@tws.org /  mgreenberg@tws.org