White House Selection for Wildlife Post Questioned

Hall's Record Raises Wildlife Conservationists' Concerns: Statement of Rodger Schlickeisen, President of Defenders of Wildlife

(07/18/2005) - "We have to be honest about our views on this nomination. There are many senior officials at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service whose nomination to be its director we would eagerly applaud. But the White House has picked one of the few whose history at the agency raises questions about his real commitment to wildlife conservation and to the objective enforcement of the nation's wildlife laws.

"Given the Bush administration's terrible record on conservation, one doesn't have to be paranoid to fear that the White House may have purposefully selected someone whom they believe will do their bidding by administratively unraveling the conservation laws he oversees. As director of the Service's Southwest region, Mr. Hall often has cut conservation voices out of decisions and has seemed to favor timber, mining and extractive interests over the public interest. Recently he was criticized by more than 160 prominent scientists for his directive that federal biologists ignore new genetic information in making plans to protect endangered animals.

"We also note that a recent survey of the people who know him best – those who work under him in the Southwest region – showed that his region reported the lowest morale and the highest level of political interference in the entire Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Only time will tell whether Mr. Hall will rise to meet his new national responsibilities as the guardian of our national wildlife refuge system and one of the chief stewards of our country's imperiled wildlife. He will be under intense pressure from Interior Secretary Norton and the White House to support their anti-conservation agenda. We hope that he will remember that his real employer is the American public who care deeply about good wildlife stewardship and leaving a strong conservation legacy for future generations. We're sure he will be tested soon."

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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 490,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues.

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Contact(s):

Brad DeVries, (202) 772-0237
William Lutz, (202) 772-0269