Montana Governor Sues to Oust De Facto Land Bureau Chief (1)

The governor of Montana filed a federal lawsuit late Monday alleging that William Perry Pendley should be removed as de facto director of the Bureau of Land Management because his appointment was illegal.

The complaint by Gov. Steve Bullock (D) alleges that the Interior Department is violating federal law by allowing Pendley to continue directing the bureau while he awaits Senate confirmation and that a series of Interior orders granting Pendley the authority of the bureau’s director was also illegal.

“The Federal Vacancies Reform Act bars Presidents from circumventing the Constitution by putting people in charge of federal agencies before ...