Overview

• Ted Cooke said the White House removed him from the Senate agenda and cited an unspecified background-check issue, and officials declined to elaborate.
• Cooke alleges Upper Basin officials pressed senators, including Mike Lee and Martin Heinrich, to oppose him over perceived bias toward the Lower Basin.
• David Palumbo remains acting commissioner and can serve only a limited additional period under the Federal Vacancies Act, extending up to 210 more days.
• Talks among the seven Colorado River states show little progress as they face decisions on cutting use and updating operations before current guidelines expire in 2026.
• Reactions split as some water managers praised Cooke’s credentials while others questioned his neutrality, and the commissioner post has now sat vacant for about eight months.