Longtime oil and gas advocate Kathleen Sgamma unexpectedly withdrew her nomination to lead the Bureau of Land Management just days after dozens of environmentalist organizations called on the Senate to oppose her appointment. 

Sgamma was tapped by President Donald Trump in February to lead the Bureau of Land Management under the Department of the Interior in a move that would have further cemented the president’s oil and gas focus for the agency under his second administration. 

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Sgamma was scheduled to appear before the Senate committee Thursday morning for a confirmation hearing, but the testimony was canceled at the last minute. 

At the top of the hearing, Chairman Mike Lee (R-UT) said Sgamma had withdrawn her nomination. 

“I was informed by the White House earlier today that one of the nominees scheduled for consideration at today’s hearing, Kathleen Sgamma, nominated to serve as director of the Bureau of Land Management, is withdrawn from consideration,” Lee said. 

Her nomination had been strongly criticized by environmentalists, conservationists, and liberal climate groups, based on her career support for fossil fuels. 

Just this week, more than 125 climate organizations sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources asking the members to oppose Sgamma’s nomination. 

The groups insisted Sgamma had “inherent conflicts of interest” that would interfere with the Bureau of Land Management’s ability to fulfill its mission. They specifically pointed to her history of litigating against the agency and longtime backing of the oil and gas industry. 

“In choosing Kathleen Sgamma as the nominee to lead the BLM, the Trump administration is sending a clear and unambiguous message that BLM lands will be used for the benefit of the fossil fuel industry, not local communities,” the climate organizations wrote. 

Signatories included groups like Earthjustice, League of Conservation Voters, Patagonia, Sierra Club, Western Colorado Alliance, and dozens more. 

Since 2006, Sgamma has served as president of the Denver-based oil and gas trade group Western Energy Alliance. For over 50 years, the group has represented independent oil and gas producers, advocating increased access to public lands for drilling as well as mining operations. The group also has a history of challenging the Bureau of Land Management in court. 

Sgamma herself has called for less regulation on the fossil fuel industry when it comes to drilling and operating on public lands. She has publicly criticized regulations imposed by the Obama and Biden administrations aimed at slowing drilling and exploration development. 

The Bureau of Land Management was established in 1946 with the intent to govern the use of about 245 million acres of federal land. The agency manages roughly 1 in 10 acres across the United States. In addition to conserving these lands, the agency regularly holds lease sales for oil and gas development. 

Neither Lee nor ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-NM) offered additional details regarding the surprise withdrawal on Thursday. 

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When asked for comment on Sgamma’s decision, White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston said, “We accept her withdrawal and look forward to putting forth another nominee.” 

Western Energy Alliance declined to comment when contacted by the Washington Examiner.