It’s Official: Trump Nominee WITHDRAWS – Wow!

Trump’s nominee for leading the Bureau of Land Management withdraws after critical memo about January 6th riots resurfaces, leaving the future of federal land energy policies in limbo.

At a Glance

• Kathleen Sgamma, President of Western Energy Alliance, withdrew her nomination to lead the Bureau of Land Management
• A 2021 memo surfaced in which she criticized former President Trump for inciting the January 6 riots
• Sgamma has been a strong advocate for oil and gas interests on federal lands
• Her withdrawal raises questions about future BLM leadership and energy development policies on public lands
• Environmental groups expressed relief at her withdrawal

Trump Nominee’s Withdrawal Creates Uncertainty for BLM

Kathleen Sgamma, President of the Western Energy Alliance since 2006 and a staunch advocate for oil and gas producers, has withdrawn her nomination to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah announced the withdrawal during a committee hearing. The Denver-based industry leader had been nominated by former President Trump and was preparing to begin the confirmation process that would have placed her in charge of millions of acres of federal public lands.

The withdrawal came after a watchdog group called Documented surfaced a memo written by Sgamma on January 7, 2021, in which she harshly criticized former President Trump for his actions surrounding the January 6 Capitol riots. No official reason was provided for her withdrawal, but the timing suggests the resurfaced memo played a significant role in her decision to step back from the nomination process.

Critical Memo Derails Nomination

In the resurfaced 2021 memo, Sgamma expressed strong criticism of former President Trump regarding the January 6 events. Her words directly contradicted the supportive stance expected from a Trump administration nominee, creating an untenable situation for her confirmation prospects in the current political climate.

“I’m disgusted by the violence witnessed yesterday and President Trump’s role in spreading misinformation that incited it.”, said Kathleen Sgamma.

Sgamma further wrote that she was “disgusted that he discredited all the good work he did reorienting the judiciary back toward respect of the rule of law and construction by dishonoring the vote of the people and the rulings of those very same judges on his numerous challenges.” The memo also revealed her “hope for a resurgence of sanity” following Trump’s electoral defeat, statements that would have made her confirmation challenging.

Energy Policy Implications

Sgamma’s withdrawal creates uncertainty about future BLM policies at a critical time for energy development on public lands. As head of the Western Energy Alliance, she has been involved in multiple lawsuits against Biden administration BLM leasing rules and has consistently advocated for increased fossil fuel production on federal lands. She contributed to the Project 2025 “Mandate for Leadership” plan, which called for rolling back Biden-era regulations.

Had she been confirmed, Sgamma likely would have pushed for expanded oil and gas leasing on public lands. She has repeatedly downplayed the environmental impact of fossil fuels, claiming that oil and gas leasing on federal lands has an “infinitesimal impact on climate” and arguing that natural gas has provided more climate benefits than renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Her withdrawal coincides with a collapse in oil prices due to trade policies and fears of recession.

Looking Forward

The BLM manages approximately 245 million acres of public land, primarily in western states, and must balance energy production with conservation efforts. With Sgamma’s withdrawal, attention now turns to who might be nominated next to lead this critical agency. GOP Representative Jeff Hurd praised Sgamma as an “effective leader in the energy sector” and indicated he would continue working with her, suggesting her influence in policy discussions will continue despite the withdrawal.

Environmental groups expressed relief at Sgamma’s withdrawal, with some suggesting her acknowledgment of the 2020 election results may have influenced her decision to step back. This marks another instance where a Trump nominee from Colorado for the BLM position has not been confirmed, creating a pattern of leadership challenges for the agency. Whoever is nominated next will face the complex task of balancing resource extraction with environmental protection on America’s public lands.