BLM establishes Western Headquarters in Colorado, national headquarters back in D.C.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KRDO) -- The U.S. Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing a permanent Western Headquarters in Colorado while also maintaining a national headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Senator John Hickenlooper said the dual headquarters should restore a fully-functioning BLM while ensuring the agency has strong, lasting ties to the West.

In July 2019, the Trump administration moved the BLM headquarters out of Washington, D.C. to Grand Junction. Hickenlooper claims the Trump administration failed to fully move the agency and instead scattered jobs.

In the move, the Department of the Interior assigned 328 positions to move with the BLM headquarters. However, 287 headquarter employees retired or left the agency, and only 41 employees relocated. Out of the 41 people, only three relocated to Grand Junction.

In a statement, Hickenlooper said:

A Western BLM Headquarters in Colorado will help ensure we have a fully functioning agency that understands the West. We’ll keep working to secure jobs in Grand Junction, including senior leadership positions. To succeed, the Western HQ must be a strong, permanent presence that engages the community and adds a Western perspective and value to the BLM’s mission

Senator John Hickenlooper

Governor Jared Polis says he's advocated for the BLM to remain in Colorado and had urged President Biden to keep and expand headquarters.

According to Polis, the BLM is committed to expanding the Western Headquarters

Senator Michael Bennet also released a statement Friday, saying:

While I am disappointed that the national headquarters will be in Washington, I believe establishing and growing a permanent BLM Western Headquarters in Grand Junction should be a very positive development. 

I welcome the prospect of the BLM Western Headquarters exercising leadership with respect to managing our public lands, outdoor recreation, conservation, renewable energy, and engagement with stakeholders and Tribes.

I’ve spoken to DOI leadership about the importance of both staffing up the office to fill current vacancies and continuing to grow the BLM’s presence in Grand Junction —  in number of employees and significance.

In the coming months, I will hold the Administration accountable to ensure that the BLM Western Headquarters is permanent, fully staffed, and informed by the voices of the Rocky Mountain West — after the last administration failed to deliver on that promise.

Senator Michael Bennet

Representative Lauren Boebert spoke out against the decision, calling it misguided.

Today’s rushed decision isn’t about helping western communities. It is clearly a partisan attack on rural communities. It hasn’t been thought-out, and important questions have yet to be answered, including where will employees that move back to D.C. work? As the Department of the Interior is essentially empty currently, when will these employees go back to in-person work? How many employees will move to D.C. and Grand Junction? What employees will move to D.C. and Grand Junction? Where will the employees that move to D.C and Grand Junction move from? When will impacted employees receive written notice? Given the lack of detail and information provided for this reprogramming, appropriators should immediately reject this political, partisan move that isn’t in the best interest of taxpayers, the agency, or its employees.

Represenative Lauren Boebert

The BLM manages 8.3 million acres of public lands in Colorado, more than 12% of the state. Also, 92% of federally managed acres are across 12 western states.