"Interior's In-House Watchdog Clamps Down On Interactions With Press"

"A new policy rolled out by the Interior Department’s inspector general puts strict limits on the office’s interactions with reporters.

The press office for the agency’s internal watchdog, which is investigating a number of Interior officials, including Secretary David Bernhardt, is now prohibited from providing journalists with information on its work beyond, “Our report speaks for itself,” or “We have no comment.”

The policy, which took effect Aug. 5, is a change from the previous practice of sometimes providing reporters with background or additional information.

When asked this week about a new report released by the IG office, the press office told The Hill it could use one of two statements: “Our report speaks for itself” or “We have no comment.”"

Miranda Green reports for The Hill August 14, 2019.

SEE ALSO:

"Interior Chief David Bernhardt Shakes Up Ethics Program" (Washington Examiner)

"Interior Department Doubles Staff In Ethics Office" (National Parks Traveler)

"New Documents Reveal More About Alleged Ethics Violations at the Department of the Interior" (Pacific Standard)

"Ethics Office Examines Allegations That Interior Dept. Officials Violated Transparency Laws" (New York Times: 7/23/2019)