Senate confirms Trump’s pick to lead federal land agency as drilling and mining expand
The 46-43 vote gives Pearce control over 700 million acres of underground minerals as the administration seeks more drilling and mining.
- The U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's pick Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees drilling and mining on public lands.
- Pearce, a former Republican congressman from New Mexico known for supporting industry on public lands, will head the agency managing 700 million acres of underground minerals.
- Environmental groups criticized Pearce's confirmation as part of a Republican assault on public lands that has canceled conservation plans and opened areas to drilling and mining.
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Steve Pearce confirmed by U.S. Senate to lead Bureau of Land Management
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The United States Senate has confirmed former New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce as the director of the Bureau of Land Management. Pearce, a Republican, represented New Mexico's Second Congressional District from 2003 to 2009, and again from 2011 to 2019. In New Mexico, the BLM manages around 13.5 million acres of federal [...]
U.S. Senate confirms former NM GOP congressman Pearce to lead federal land management agency
The United States Senate on May 18, 2026, voted 46-43 to confirm Republican Steve Pearce, a former New Mexico congressman and state GOP party leader, as the new federal Bureau of Land Management director. (Screenshot of Feb. 25 U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing)The United States Senate on Monday voted 46-43 to confirm Republican Steve Pearce, a former New Mexico congressman, to lead the federal Bureau of Land Management …
Associated Press News
Senate confirms Trump’s pick to lead federal land agency as drilling and mining expand
The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s pick to oversee the management of a quarter-billion acres of public lands concentrated in Western states.
JUST IN: Senate Approves 49 Trump Nominees In Historic Confirmation Blitz
The recent surge of confirmations in the U.S. Senate stands as a significant achievement for the Trump administration, reinforcing its authority within the federal government. A total of forty-nine nominees were approved in a single en bloc vote, with results reflecting the polarized political atmosphere at a narrow 46-43. This decisive moment illustrates ongoing challenges surrounding governance and the complex nature of securing confirmation a…
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