Kathleen Sgamma Withdraws Nomination to Lead Bureau of Land Management

The decision follows the resurfacing of her private criticisms of former President Trump’s handling of the January 6 Capitol attack.

Kathleen Sgamma, a longtime oil and gas advocate, withdrew her nomination shortly before her Senate confirmation hearing on April 10, 2025.
Her withdrawal was announced by Sen. Mike Lee, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, during the scheduled hearing.
The White House confirmed her decision, with Sgamma stating her continued support for Trump’s energy agenda in the private sector.
The move comes after a 2021 memo surfaced in which Sgamma criticized Trump’s role in spreading misinformation that incited the January 6 Capitol attack.
Sgamma’s nomination was part of Trump’s broader push to expand fossil fuel development on federal lands, a strategy that has faced significant opposition from environmental groups.