FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 18, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Mathilda Miller, [email protected], 808-897-1630
A Nomination That Could Redefine Public Lands as We Know Them
NEVADA — Today, Steve Pearce was confirmed under expedited rules to serve as Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM Director oversees nearly 250 million acres of public lands across the nation. His confirmation warrants attention given Mr. Pearce’s documented record supporting the transfer and disposal of public lands, along with his refusal during the confirmation process to clearly disavow those views. Together, these concerns raise broader questions about how public lands will be managed moving forward.
Barbara Hartzell, Executive Director of Indigenous Voices of Nevada, said:
“Land is not a line on a map or a line in a budget. It is where people go back to. It is where histories are carried, whether they are written down or not. As stewards, our land is as alive as any of us, and we respect and take care of it as we do our people.
“That is what makes this moment hard to treat as routine. Because on paper, this is a confirmation vote. A step in a process. But the position in question oversees nearly 250 million acres of public land, including places that communities rely on, return to, and understand as part of who they are.
“Mr. Pearce has a documented history of supporting the transfer and disposal of public lands, and when asked, he declined to clearly disavow those views. At the same time, existing law provides the agency with broad discretion in how those lands are managed and, in some cases, disposed of.
“That combination matters. Because decisions like this do not stay contained. They shape what is protected, what is opened, and what becomes easier to justify changing over time.
“For Indigenous communities, that pattern is not unfamiliar. We have seen what happens when decisions about land are made without the people who carry a relationship to it, and then explained after the fact.
“This moment raises a fundamental question about whether public lands are being stewarded with long-term responsibility, or managed in ways that could gradually change what they are, and who they are for.”
Olivia Tanager, Executive Director of the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, issued the following statement:
“Over the last several years, the public has made it abundantly clear: public lands are not for sale. The confirmation of Steve Pearce is out of step with public sentiment, and in voting to confirm Mr. Pearce, the Senate chose to ignore months of pushback from across the country. Steve Pearce is wholly inept to manage our public lands, with a clear track record of supporting public land sales. My organization is committed to holding the Bureau of Land Management to account, and will continue fighting to ensure public lands remain in public hands for generations to come.”
Jose Witt, Nevada State Director for The Wilderness Society, issued the following statement:
“Nevada sits at the heart of our nation’s Bureau of Land Management lands, and Nevadans deserve leadership that protects clean air and water, sustains wildlife and preserves the freedom of these lands for future generations. Steve Pearce’s record, which includes attempts to sell off our public lands, gives Nevadans every reason to question whether he can be trusted to keep public lands in public hands and balance conservation, Indigenous values, recreation and development.”
Shaaron Netherton, Executive Director of Friends of Nevada Wilderness, issued the following statement:
“Nevada is an amazing state because of its wealth of public land owned by all Americans and managed on our behalf. Alas, the confirmation of Steve Pearce to head the agency that administers most of our public land ignores the fact that the public wants these lands to remain public and not be sold off to line federal coffers. Friends of Nevada Wilderness will continue to work to protect, defend and care for our public wildlands for future generations.”
Shelbie Swartz, Executive Director of Institute for a Progressive Nevada, issued the following statement:
“Steve Pearce’s record raises serious and well-documented concerns about his ability to lead the Bureau of Land Management at a time when Nevada’s public lands are under increasing threats from sell-off and big money developers. He has consistently backed efforts to move Nevada’s public lands into private hands, with few safeguards on who acquires them or how they’re managed. The Bureau of Land Management needs leadership that is firmly committed to protecting, keeping public lands accessible, and managing them for the public. Anything less puts too much risk. This confirmation carries significant consequences for Nevada and warrants serious scrutiny.”
Blanca Macias, Make the Road Nevada, issued the following statement:
“In Nevada, public lands are essential to our economy and natural resources. They support a wide range of jobs, including those in tourism and small businesses across the state. Additionally, these lands play a crucial role in safeguarding our air quality and our already limited water supply in an extreme climate. The recent confirmation of Steve Pearce raises serious concerns due to his previous support for the sale of Nevada’s public lands. Since approximately 80% of Nevada’s land is federally managed, such decisions could limit access and disrupt our local economy. Nevadans should not lose control over the lands that significantly affect our daily lives.”
Eric Jeng, Executive Director of One APIA Nevada, issued the following statement:
“Nevada’s public lands represent an irreplaceable natural and cultural connection to this state. These lands are not just open space, they are sanctuaries for nature, communities, and carry our shared history. The confirmation of Steve Pearce undermines the voices of those who have fought for generations to protect these landscapes. Given his history of supporting the transfer and disposal of these very lands, we cannot not let our shared heritage be treated as a mere line item to be sold off.”
Kristee Watson, Executive Director of Nevada Conservation League, issued the following statement:
“In Nevada, where over 80% of our lands are federally managed, 92% of Nevadans support keeping national monument protections in place, and our public lands fuel a $13.7 billion outdoor recreation industry, the responsibility of the Bureau of Land Management carries enormous consequences for our state and the entire West.
“Steve Pearce has spent his career pushing to sell off public lands, rolling back national monument protections, and siding with the oil and gas industry — and now, he holds the keys to over 245 million acres of public lands nationwide, including 48 million acres right here in Nevada. Given his track record and deep ties to the oil and gas industry, Nevadans have every reason to be concerned that our lands will be managed for dirty-energy interests rather than for affordable, homegrown clean energy that benefits our communities.
“Nevadans — and Westerners across the political spectrum – already rejected this sell-off agenda last year when Rep. Mark Amodei tried to put thousands of acres of our lands on the auction block. We will be watching closely and will sound the alarm if Pearce’s decisions put our lands, communities, and our economy at risk. We’re grateful to Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen for standing up for Nevada and making clear: our public lands belong to us, and they are not for sale.”
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About Indigenous Voices of Nevada: Indigenous Voices of Nevada (IVN) is a bold force in the fight to protect Nevada’s sacred landscapes, defend its public lands, and preserve the cultural lifeblood of Indigenous communities. Rooted in resilience and powered by action, IVN amplifies Indigenous voices to safeguard the places that define our identity and history. Through transformative voter education and sustainable stewardship, we equip communities to lead the charge in protecting the natural and cultural legacy of our state. Together, we are reclaiming our stories, amplifying our sovereignty, and our future.