A watchdog group recently filed a complaint that sparked an investigation by the Department of the Interior Inspector General of a high ranking official in the DOI, alleging violations of federal ethics laws.
Protect the Public’s Trust filed the complaint that alleges Nada Culver, deputy director of Policy and Programs at the DOI, took part in issues involving Public Land Orders (PLOs), potentially in violation of federal ethics laws and the Biden Ethics Pledge. In a release, PPT Director Michael Chamberlain lauded the move.
"While this is a welcome development, we look forward to the IG's findings,” he said in the statement. “Bottom line, Nada Culver acted inappropriately and potentially in violation of her ethics obligations. And at this point, it is clear that the IG agrees that her actions warrant a full investigation."
In the statement, PPT claims that while Culver was the vice president of Public Lands and Senior Policy Counsel at the National Audubon Society, that group urged the Bureau of Land Management to slow progress on several PLOs. When Culver joined the BLM, she complied with the society’s requests, which could have violated ethics laws, PPT stated.
“Ms. Culver’s participation in a matter in which her former employer was involved raises serious questions,” Chamberlain added. “The American public deserves to be assured political appointees are carrying out their duties in an ethical, impartial manner without favoritism to previous employers or these large special interest groups.”
The PPT also noted in its release that the move by Culver also violates the Biden Ethics Pledge, prohibiting the administration’s political appointees from taking part in any issues that are in direct relation to the interests of former employers and clients.
“If a high-ranking official like Culver can come in and, as one of her first actions, do her former employer’s bidding, it’s hard for the American public to understand exactly what purpose the impartiality regulations or the Biden Ethics Pledge serve,” Chamberlain said.
According to Greenwire, PPT also claims Culver’s alleged violation occurred when the bureau decided last spring to put a two-year moratorium on several PLOs in Alaska that would have opened millions of acres to farming.
A key issue raised by the PPT in its complaint is whether Culver sought a green light from the Department of Ethics Office to take part in the PLOs despite the potential of a conflict of interest. Greenwire also reported that lawmakers have requested documents, including Culver’s ethics pledge, list of recusals and any ethics waivers.
Protect the Public Trust received confirmation this week that the DOI Inspector General has begun an investigation based on its complaint.
