Steve Pearce: A Risky Choice for Colorado’s Public Lands

Colorado owns more than 8 million acres that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) keeps safe for everyone. These lands give clean air, water, and space for wildlife. They also bring tourists, hunters, and people who love clear night skies. In 2025, visitors spent over $2 billion on the state’s economy. The new BLM head would be former New Mexico congressman Steve Pearce. His record shows he wants to sell public lands for money. He has pushed bills that would give private owners more control over these areas. Pearce also opposed the Antiquities Act, which lets presidents protect national monuments. He said such designations hurt jobs and local economies, even though studies show they boost income.Before Congress, Pearce ran an oil‑field services company. He still owns stock in the industry and has supported easier drilling on public lands. In Colorado, oil and gas projects are increasing. Large leases threaten sacred Indigenous sites, wildlife, and air quality. The American Lung Association reports that 80 % of Colorado residents live where the air is unhealthy—twice the national average. Most Coloradans do not want more drilling. A 2025 poll shows 76 % favor stronger environmental protection, and 92 % want current monument designations kept. Pearce’s leadership could reverse these gains. Colorado’s identity relies on its natural beauty. Letting a former pro‑sell‑land advocate run the BLM would risk that legacy. The state needs a steward who protects public lands, not one who seeks to profit from them.