Veteran conservative lawyer quits Trump’s interior department and warns of ‘assault on the rule of law’
John Murdock had been working for the agency for 18 years and his resignation comes during an exodus of longtime federal workers and scientists
TL;DR
- John Murdock, an 18-year veteran attorney at the US Department of the Interior, resigned citing "a deeply troubling assault on the rule of the law" during the Trump administration.
- Murdock, a self-described conservative Christian, cited "glaring legal flaws," concerns over offshore oil and gas drilling, and the flouting of environmental regulations.
- A specific incident involving Matt Giacona, acting director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), announcing an oil and gas lease sale while extolling the Trump administration's pro-drilling agenda and claiming adherence to environmental standards, was a catalyst for Murdock's resignation.
- Critics, including environmental groups, argue the Trump administration bypassed environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act in lease sales.
- Murdock also protested the administration's decision to exempt oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act and its perceived attack on offshore wind energy.
- Murdock's resignation is framed within a broader context of experienced civil servants leaving federal agencies.