BLM official escorted out of building after DOGE conflict

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Politico

BLM official escorted out of building after DOGE conflict

The removal of Mike Nedd, BLM's deputy director for administration and programs, is the latest upheaval in personnel at the agency that is critical for oil and gas production.


Bureau of Land Management Deputy Director Mike Nedd during Tuesday's House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing on oil and gas development. Francis Chung/POLITICO

By BEN LEFEBVRE
05/27/2025 06:40 PM EDT

A senior leader at the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management was escorted out its headquarters Tuesday after POLITICO reported that he opposed staffing directions from a former DOGE appointee, according to three people familiar with the situation. .. The removal of Mike Nedd, BLM's deputy director for administration and programs who had been with the department for nearly 30 years, is the latest personnel upheaval at the bureau that oversees oil, natural gas and mineral production on federal land and is considered key for the Trump administration to reach its goal of increasing fossil fuel production on public property.

Nedd had opposed carrying out directives signed by Stephanie Holmes, a former staffer for Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency who is now embedded as Interior's acting chief human capital officer, people familiar with the situation told POLITICO last week. Holmes' May 2 memo instructed employees who had been filling in on positions left vacant by departing staff to return to their original positions.
BLM oversees the 245 million acres under federal control, making it a critical player in fulfilling Trump's pledge of rapidly expanding the nation's fossil fuel and mineral production. Forcing staff to stop performing the duties of the jobs left empty after the administration's aggressive workforce cuts could slow the bureau's efforts to increase oil and gas production on federal land.

Nedd could not be reached for comment. A BLM spokesperson declined to comment on personnel issues, and an Interior Department spokesperson did not immediately reply to questions. An Interior spokesperson had said on Friday that Nedd had not told staff to ignore Holmes' directive.

Nedd's removal would be the latest blow to BLM leadership. The bureau still doesn't have a director after Trump's first nominee, Kathleen Sgamma, withdrew her nomination last month after an essay she wrote years ago criticizing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol resurfaced.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/blm-leader-office-doge-dust-up-00371860

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Hat tip, the Washington Post

Top Interior official escorted out after reportedly resisting DOGE

Bureau of Land Management ousts official who reportedly resisted DOGE

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/05/27/bureau-land-management-doge-nedd/

————

Before it’s disappeared, here’s Mike Nedd’s webpage.

https://www.blm.gov/bio/michael-d-nedd

Michael D. Nedd

?itok=TSLCsCbG

Deputy Director, Administration and Programs

As Deputy Director for Administration and Programs, Michael Nedd provides executive leadership for the Bureau’s Headquarters, and national programs - policy, budget, oversight and coordination, that guide BLM’s daily activities and initiatives for more than 10,000 employees. As Deputy Director for Operations (March 2019 through March 2024), he provided executive leadership and oversight for both the Bureau’s national programs and state operations. Nedd has held numerous other leadership positions within the BLM, including Acting Director, Assistant Director for Energy Minerals, and Realty, State Director, Associate State Director, Deputy Chief Information Officer, and Deputy Assistant Director. Prior to joining the BLM, he worked for the National Park Service, the State of South Carolina, and several private organizations. He spent more than 8 years on active duty in the U.S. military as an officer and enlisted soldier in several highly specialized units. Nedd holds a master’s degree in information and systems management from Strayer University and undergraduate degrees in information and systems management and business administration.

[Uncle Joe]

1. and DOGE is just supposed to be "advisory?"

(snip)

But the Trump administration argues DOGE is a presidential advisory body so is exempt from the nation's premier public disclosure law.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in March that DOGE appears to have enough independent authority that it should be subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

Cooper ordered DOGE to produce by June 3 documents needed to gauge its authority. And he said CREW must be allowed to question Amy Gleason, the head of DOGE, by June 13.

(snip)

The watchdog group responded that the administration wants the courts to “blindly yield” to its characterization of DOGE. That would give the president free reign to create entities to get around transparency laws, CREW told the Supreme Court.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/23/supreme-court-doge-trump-disclosure-foia/83769473007/

Thanks for the thread mahatmakanejeeves

[maxsolomon]

4. The person who had him removed isn't "DOGE" any longer. She's an "acting" BLM employee:

Stephanie Holmes, a former staffer for Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency who is now embedded as Interior's acting chief human capital officer

Don't know if "Chief Human Capital Officer" is above Mr. Nedd, but apparently she's got the juice to summarily fire a 30 year civil employee.

[Bayard]

2. Of course, he's black

His days were numbered from the start.