Trump’s BLM Nominee Has Strong Ties to Wyoming’s Public Lands

Kathleen Sgamma, a longtime advocate for the oil and gas industry, has been nominated by former President Donald Trump to lead the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Wyo File reports.

If confirmed, Sgamma would oversee 18.4 million surface acres and 42.9 million acres of mineral estate in Wyoming, a state where BLM policies have a major impact on energy, agriculture, wildlife, and recreation.

Sgamma currently serves as president of the Western Energy Alliance, a Denver-based oil and gas trade group known for opposing federal regulations on public land use. Her nomination has drawn both praise from industry leaders and criticism from conservation groups.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon described her as “an excellent choice”, citing her knowledge of the West and experience with multiple-use land management. Meanwhile, conservation groups like the Center for Western Priorities have labeled the nomination as “a direct threat” to public lands, wildlife, and clean air and water.

The BLM’s decisions shape Wyoming’s economy, affecting industries such as coal mining, oil and gas development, ranching, and outdoor recreation. The state is engaged in multiple legal battles over BLM policies, including lawsuits related to:

• The federal coal leasing ban in the Powder River Basin
• The agency’s ‘conservation rule’
• Sage grouse habitat protections

Additionally, Wyoming officials, including Governor Gordon, are closely reviewing the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, a proposal that could reshape land use in southwest Wyoming.

Supporters believe Sgamma’s deep industry ties will help streamline energy development on public lands. Petroleum Association of Wyoming President Pete Obermueller noted that she “knows how the BLM works and what needs to be done to ensure continued energy production.”

However, conservation groups worry her leadership will favor oil and gas interests at the expense of wildlife protection, outdoor recreation, and environmental health. Wyoming Outdoor Council Program Director Alec Underwood criticized the nomination, stating it reflects “a prioritization of drilling over all other public land uses.”