A Tenure of Service and Leadership
Bernhardt has been nominated by Presidents George W. Bush and Donald J. Trump to serve in critical roles within their administrations, making history as the only individual ever confirmed by the U.S. Senate to hold the three key positions of Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Solicitor of the Department of the Interior.
Within the George W. Bush administration, he held various roles, including deputy chief of staff and counselor to Secretary Gale Norton, director of the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, and deputy solicitor before his unanimous confirmation as the Solicitor of the Department in 2006 where he
served until 2009.
Following his service in the Bush administration, Bernhardt returned to private law practice at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP, a Colorado-based law firm where he had previously served as an associate. In 2017, he was invited to return to Interior to serve as Deputy Secretary between 2017 and 2019 and later as Secretary within the Trump administration, which marked a period of transformational change and achievement across several areas within Interior:
Efficiency in Environmental Policy
During his tenure, David Bernhardt championed a comprehensive approach to deregulation that significantly streamlined environmental and energy regulations aimed at boosting efficiency and economic growth while maintaining safety and environmental standards. A notable area of focus was overhauling the Interior’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes. Under his leadership, the Department of the Interior successfully set NEPA permitting time frames and instituted page limitation processes that improved products while minimizing unnecessary delays. In fact, his initiatives contributed to the basis of a major regulatory modification of the NEPA regulations and the incorporation of timelines and page limitations into statute to just one year, a substantial decrease from the multi-year timelines previously common.
Bernhardt’s tenure also saw strategic deregulation efforts to enhance the United States’ energy independence and economic output. Notably, he was relentless at spearheading efforts to reduce unnecessary private-sector burdens and to harmonize federal oversight with state laws, thereby facilitating a more efficient and responsive regulatory environment. In doing so, he recognized the federal government could provide the American people with a more streamlined, efficient, and balanced approach to federal environmental and energy policy while maintaining environmental outcomes.
Fueling America’s Energy Independence
During David Bernhardt’s stewardship at the Department of the Interior, the United States achieved significant milestones in energy independence and economic contribution, marking a historic shift in the nation’s energy strategy. A landmark achievement was the United States becoming a net energy exporter for the first time in nearly seven decades. This transition underscored a broader national shift towards maximizing domestic energy production and reducing reliance on foreign energy sources, aligning with broader economic and strategic objectives.
The economic impact of the Department’s activities during this period was profound, generating $336 billion in economic output in Fiscal Year 2019 alone. This output stemmed from a diverse range of activities, including energy and mineral production, grazing, timber, land sales, and more, highlighting the multifaceted contributions of the Department’s managed lands and resources to the national economy. Notably, onshore oil and gas lease sales reached a record $1.1 billion in 2018, while oil production on Federal lands surged to 1 billion barrels in FY 2019, representing a 29% increase from FY 2016. These achievements were supported by an efficient regulatory framework that facilitated a 300% increase in permit applications to drill on Federal lands.
The strategic expansion of energy development activities had a substantial ripple effect on the U.S. economy, with $21 billion in revenues generated from offshore energy development between FY 2016 and FY 2020. Furthermore, the sector supported approximately 1.9 million jobs annually by FY 2019, underscoring the vital role of Interior-managed lands and resources in fostering job creation and economic resilience. The production milestones, such as the 214,144,945 barrels of oil produced onshore in 2018 using the least amount of acreage in history, demonstrated an effective balance between maximizing resource utilization and stewarding environmental and public lands responsibly.
Bernhardt’s tenure thus marked a pivotal period of energy policy and economic output, characterized by strategic expansions in domestic energy production, significant economic contributions, and the creation of millions of jobs, reinforcing the Department’s role in bolstering the nation’s energy independence and economic strength.
Conservation and Sustainability
David Bernhardt’s tenure as Secretary of the Interior was marked by significant achievements in conservation, reflecting a commitment to preserving America’s natural heritage. A hallmark of his leadership was the enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act, the single most significant investment in mandatory funding for U.S. public lands in history. This landmark legislation secured $7 billion to address deferred maintenance in parks, refuges, and Bureau of Indian Education schools, ensuring these treasures would be enjoyed by future generations. Additionally, under Bernhardt’s guidance, the Land and Water Conservation Fund received full, permanent funding at $900 million annually, expanding public access and enhancing recreational opportunities across public lands and refuges.
During Bernhardt’s tenure, he also championed the implementation of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, which significantly advanced conservation and recreation efforts nationwide. This comprehensive legislation authorized the designation of hundreds of miles of wild and scenic rivers, established new national monuments, created over 1.3 million acres of new wilderness areas, and founded the African American Civil Rights Network. Such actions underscored a broad commitment to preserving diverse aspects of America’s natural and cultural heritage.
A notable conservation achievement during Bernhardt’s tenure was the unprecedented recovery of endangered or threatened species. More species were recovered under the Endangered Species Act during President Trump’s first term than in any other presidential administration’s first term up to that time, with 17 species fully recovered and delisted and six species downlisted from endangered to threatened. The improvements regarding the implementation of the Endangered Species Act were further enhanced by implementing new rules for listings and consultations, enhancing the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
Furthermore, Bernhardt invested considerable effort in modernizing the approach to wildfire management and establishing creative approaches to mitigating the risk of catastrophic wildfires, 5.4 million acres of federal land were treated—49 percent more than during the second term of the Obama administration and the most in any four-year period since records began in 2003. Bernhardt also supported the One Trillion Trees Initiative, contributing to the planting of more than 80 million trees from 2017 to 2021, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to conservation and environmental stewardship.
These initiatives collectively highlight the extensive efforts made under David Bernhardt’s leadership to conserve America’s natural resources, protect wildlife, and ensure the enjoyment of public lands for recreation and education, reinforcing a legacy of conservation and stewardship.
Doors to America’s Lands
During David Bernhardt’s tenure as Secretary of the Interior, significant strides were made to expand public access to America’s natural and historical treasures. A key achievement was opening 4 million new acres within the Fish and Wildlife Service refuges for hunting and fishing, significantly enhancing recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women across the country. This expansion not only provided more Americans the chance to engage in traditional outdoor activities but also underscored the commitment to preserving and promoting the nation’s hunting and fishing heritage.
In an effort to modernize access to public lands, Bernhardt’s administration implemented a rule allowing electric bicycles (e-bikes) access to the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Park System. This move aimed to make these treasured lands more accessible to people of all abilities, encouraging a wider segment of the population to explore and appreciate the great outdoors. Additionally, recognizing the sacrifices of Gold Star families and military veterans, entrance fees to all Interior-managed lands and waters were waived for these groups, furthering the Department’s commitment to honoring those who have served the country.
Amid the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bernhardt’s leadership ensured that the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Park System remained open and maintained, providing a safe outdoor space for the public to recreate. This decision was crucial in offering solace and a healthful retreat to many Americans during a time of widespread social restrictions and stress.
Under Bernhardt’s administration, significant national events were celebrated with grandeur, including the planning and execution of the July 4th “Salute to America” fireworks on the National Mall and the return of the Independence Day fireworks celebration to Mount Rushmore National Memorial for the first time in over a decade. These events not only celebrated the nation’s heritage but also promoted public engagement with national monuments and parks.
These expansive efforts under Bernhardt’s direction significantly enhanced the public’s access to and engagement with federal lands and waters, reflecting a dedication to enriching Americans’ outdoor experiences and preserving the nation’s natural and historical legacy.
Integrity and Ethics in Governance
David Bernhardt placed a strong emphasis on building public trust during his tenure as Deputy Secretary and Secretary of the Interior, implementing several key initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and ethical standards within the Department. Recognizing the critical importance of ethical compliance, Bernhardt overhauled the Department’s ethics program. This comprehensive reform included changing the reporting structure so that ethics officials reported to the Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO), significantly increasing the number of career ethics officials from 8 to 75, enhancing staff’s access to ethics officials, and unifying 11 independent bureau ethics programs. These measures were instrumental in fostering a culture of compliance, integrity, and ethical behavior across the Department.
Under Bernhardt’s leadership, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) headquarters was relocated to Grand Junction, Colorado, a strategic move that brought the agency closer to the vast majority of the lands it manages. This relocation was part of a broader effort to improve the Department’s operational efficiency and responsiveness to the needs of the western states where most federal lands are located.
These initiatives and others collectively underscored Bernhardt’s commitment to building public trust through ethical leadership, responsive governance, and a commitment to delivering better outcomes to the American public. By leading efforts to institute these reforms, Bernhardt aimed to ensure that the Department of the Interior operated with the highest standards of integrity and transparency, reinforcing its mission to conserve and manage the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people.
