President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management has withdrawn from consideration.
Kathleen Sgamma, the head of an oil industry trade group, did not appear before the Senate on Thursday for her scheduled confirmation hearing.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the head of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said he was informed by the White House this morning that Sgamma had withdrawn her nomination without offering additional details.
The sudden withdrawal comes after reporting earlier this week that Sgamma privately wrote that she had been “disgusted” by Trump “spreading misinformation” on Jan. 6, 2021. She withdrew her confirmation due to revelations about that post, said a person familiar with the move who was granted anonymity to discuss personnel matters.
“It was an honor to be nominated by President Trump as director of the Bureau of Land Management, but unfortunately at this time I need to withdraw my nomination,” Sgamma said in a statement released by the White House. “I will continue to support President Trump and fight for his agenda to Unleash American Energy in the private sector.”
White House spokesperson Liz Huston said they “accept her withdrawal and look forward to putting forth another nominee.”
A spokesperson for the Western Energy Alliance, which Sgamma has led for nearly two decades, declined to comment.
David Bernhardt, who served as Interior secretary in Trump’s first term, referred to the reporting about Sgamma’s Jan. 6 comments Thursday in a post on the social media platform X.
Bernhardt wrote, “2 years ago, in my book, I explained that individuals who know their views don’t align with the president, and yet seek political appointments hoping such divergence will not be noticed cause needless harm and conflict, hindering the president’s agenda. Sad. Self-inflicted.”
