Grand Junction –– Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after the Department of the Interior announced their decision on the location of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) headquarters:
“While I am disappointed that the national headquarters will be in Washington, I believe establishing and growing a permanent BLM Western Headquarters in Grand Junction should be a very positive development.
“I welcome the prospect of the BLM Western Headquarters exercising leadership with respect to managing our public lands, outdoor recreation, conservation, renewable energy, and engagement with stakeholders and Tribes.
“I’ve spoken to DOI leadership about the importance of both staffing up the office to fill current vacancies and continuing to grow the BLM’s presence in Grand Junction — in number of employees and significance.
“In the coming months, I will hold the Administration accountable to ensure that the BLM Western Headquarters is permanent, fully staffed, and informed by the voices of the Rocky Mountain West — after the last administration failed to deliver on that promise.”
Background
In July 2019, the Trump administration announced that the Bureau of Land Management headquarters would move to Grand Junction, Colorado and just over a year later the DOI signed an order formalizing this move. Despite these important and symbolic steps, the Trump Administration did not follow through on their commitment to Grand Junction. At the time, the Department of the Interior assigned 328 positions to move West out of Washington, D.C. According to DOI, of those, 287 headquarter employees retired or left the agency and only 41 people relocated West. Out of those 41 people, only three have relocated to Grand Junction.