According to several media reports, Karen Budd-Falen, a Wyoming-based attorney who styles herself as concerned with “property rights,” will assume the position of deputy solicitor for Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior.
The Wilderness Society closely monitors agency staffing and actions that impact the management of America’s public lands. Budd-Falen’s position oversees issues related to endangered species, wildlife refuges, national parks and national monuments.
The following statement is from Nada Culver, The Wilderness Society’s Senior Counsel and Senior Director of Agency Policy and Planning:
“Unfortunately, Ms. Budd-Falen’s record with the law, her attempt to place an exaggerated version of private property rights over the public interest and her support of anti-public lands extremists like the Bundys—who were responsible for trashing the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and intimidating public employees in 2016—calls into serious question whether she can be trusted to apply the law on behalf of the Department of the Interior. Her appointment to this position is abysmal for the protection of wildlife, respect for sacred tribal lands and conservation of wild places that Interior is supposed to safeguard. ”
The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands.
