"During her stint in the first Trump administration, Karen Budd-Falen was prohibited from working on or even discussing grazing matters."
"UPDATE: Ethics officials at President Donald Trump’s Interior Department granted Karen Budd-Falen, the agency’s No. 3 official, a waiver on March 11 — the very day that Public Domain inquired about her recent work on grazing issues — that provides her wide latitude to work on grazing policy and permitting, despite her family’s vast personal holdings in the public lands grazing industry.
The waiver is a stunning reversal from her stint at Interior during the first Trump administration, when she was barred from working on or even discussing federal grazing matters.
“These waivers will allow you to participate in particular matters of general applicability that may have a direct and predictable effect on your direct and imputed financial interests in the Budd-Falen Ranch and Cattle Interests or the BLM grazing permits that are either attached to any of the Budd-Falen Ranch and Cattle Interests,” reads the waiver, issued by Heather Gottry, director of Interior’s ethics office. “These waivers are being issued because of the level of experience and expertise necessary to perform the position of Associate Deputy Secretary and reflects the determination by Department leadership that your background, leadership, and skill set are critical to the work of the Department.”
The waiver goes on to note that Budd-Falen advised ethics officials that recusing herself from grazing matters had become restrictive."
