Investigations
Bernhardt delivers industry win in Endangered Species Act rollback
As a lobbyist Bernhardt advocated for a rollback of protections for endangered species. Working on the ESA now may violate his ethics pledge.
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Press Releases
CREW files complaint against Secretary Bernhardt for recordkeeping violations
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and his staff failed to create documents about his daily schedule and details of meetings with industry lobbyists.
FOIA Requests
CREW requests Interior records on Bernhardt NMA meeting
[…] them here, and read our blog analyzing them here. Under the Freedom of Information Act, CREW requests: Copies of all prepared remarks used by Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt at the National Mining Association meeting at the Trump International Hotel – Washington, D.C. on October 4, 2017 Copies of all documents received by Deputy Secretary […]
FOIA Requests
CREW requests documents on Bernhardt’s former lobbying clients
CREW requested Bernhardt’s communications with Halliburton Energy Services and MGM, the clients involved in Interior IG investigations into Ryan Zinke.
Legal Complaints
CREW files complaint against Secretary Bernhardt for deleting records
CREW files a complaint against Interior Secretary David Bernhardt for deleting records, putting him in violation of the Federal Records Act.
Investigations
Bernhardt praised Trump Hotel in speech to mining group at Trump Hotel
[…] then-Labor Secretary Alex Acosta. It would have been four, but then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke had to cancel due to travel. In his place, then-Interior Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt, a former lobbyist for at least one member of the mining trade group, spoke to the mining industry executives. During his speech at the event, Bernhardt, […]
Investigations
The ethics mess at Interior continues with Zinke’s replacement
[…] an extreme under former Secretary Ryan Zinke, but with newly released calendars and a lobbying invoice shedding light on questionable industry contacts, it seems that Secretary David Bernhardt is following Zinke’s unethical lead. According to the newly discovered documents, Bernhardt’s former client, Westlands Water District, was billed $25,000 plus travel expenses in March 2017 […]
Investigations
New Interior watchdog is a Trump donor with another IG job
[…] on both Inspector General offices and illustrates the absence of ethics and accountability that is typical of the Trump administration. Given the ethics scandals of Interior Secretary Bernhardt and his predecessor, the Interior Department needs an IG of its own. Interior has been without a permanent IG since early in the Obama Administration, but […]
Investigations
It’s not just USPS: Trump is hijacking the park service to boost his re-election, too
[…] to America” event last Fourth of July on the National Mall, an expensive event with fireworks, military planes, tanks and a large audience. Trump tasked Interior Secretary Bernhardt (who oversees the park service) with planning the event. Bernhardt delivered, even diverted $2.5 million in park service fees (federal funds) to help pay for the […]
Investigations
Trump Hotel room prices spiked 13x last weekend. We finally know why.
[…] and top members of his Cabinet, the Trump Victory Committee fundraiser did not disappoint. According to 1100 Pennsylvania, President Trump, Vice President Pence and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt were scheduled to attend Trump Victory’s retreat. Vice President Pence, who is one of the most frequent visitors to Trump properties, was a special guest for […]
Investigations
12 federal agencies still do not have permanent inspectors general
[…] to serve as the IG at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Given the ethics concerns raised by former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, his proposed successor, David Bernhardt, and DHS’s failure to create and maintain records regarding its child separation policy at the border, both agencies need a permanent IG to promote ethical compliance […]
Letters
Interior Department failed to report destroyed federal records
[…] with the Center for Biological Diversity, and a professor at American University’s Washington College of Law. CREW previously filed a complaint against Zinke’s successor, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, and his staff, for violating the FRA by purposefully failing to document Bernhardt’s daily schedule and meetings with industry lobbyists. In March, CREW requested NARA’s communications […]