Senior BLM Official Caught in Second Ethics Violation

IG investigation based upon PPT complaint again finds violation

Today, Protect the Public’s Trust (PPT) responded to a report from the Department of the Interior (DOI) inspector general’s office concluding that a high-ranking Bureau of Land Management (BLM) official violated her ethics obligations. The investigation of BLM principal deputy director for policy and programs Nada Culver was sparked by a complaint filed by PPT.

The Inspector General (IG) found that Culver’s ownership of Berkshire Hathaway stock violated DOI’s Standards of Ethical Conduct and department ethics regulations prohibiting the ownership of particular investments by certain DOI employees. A January 30, 2023, PPT ethics complaint filing alleging violations related to her ownership of investments in ConocoPhillips and Berkshire Hathaway, both on BLM’s list of prohibited investments, triggered the investigation.

Ms. Culver admitted to merely “skimming” the prohibited investments list after receiving it from ethics officials, and claimed she must not have noticed Berkshire Hathaway on the list. Her lack of diligence in comparing the list with her holdings resulted in her owning the investments in Berkshire Hathaway until April 2021.

While the Inspector General concluded there was no technical violation of the criminal conflict of interest statute, the investigation’s factual findings demonstrate a clear conflict and leave the public with an undeniable appearance of impropriety. Through August 2021, Culver’s husband retained financial interests in oil and gas firm ConocoPhillips. The DOI ethics office repeatedly advised Culver against retaining the financial interests before Culver was eventually directed to divest. Culver held onto her interests for another three and a half months. During that time period, Culver worked personally on an Alaskan energy development project known as Willow that directly involved Conoco – at one point, Culver even speaking with a senior employee at the company to assist its efforts.  The IG’s investigation determined her husband’s holdings in ConocoPhillips were below an undefined threshold prohibiting “substantial” interests in prohibited entities.

An August 18, 2022, report by the DOI IG concluded that Ms. Culver did not comply with her obligations under the federal ethics pledge when she met with a former employer. That investigation was also based upon a complaint filed by PPT.

“Nada Culver’s multiple ethics violations are emblematic of the lack of commitment from senior leaders at the Department of the Interior under Secretary Haaland,” said PPT Director Michael Chamberlain. “The admission that she merely skimmed the prohibited investments list demonstrates the value she and her colleagues place on maintaining the public’s trust. Those who expected more from a Biden-Harris administration touting itself as the most ethical in history have been continually disappointed.”

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