New Mexico Republicans welcome Pearce as new Bureau of Land Management director

SANTA FE — New Mexico Senate Republican leaders praised the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of former Congressman Steve Pearce as director of the Bureau of Land Management, saying the appointment could benefit the state’s energy industry, ranchers and rural communities.

Pearce, a former congressman and oil industry executive from New Mexico, will lead the federal agency responsible for managing millions of acres of public land across the West.

The Bureau of Land Management oversees more than 245 million acres of public land nationwide. In New Mexico, the BLM oversees roughly 13.5 million acres used for oil and gas production, grazing and recreation.

Senate Minority Floor Leader Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, thanked President Donald Trump for the appointment.

“We are grateful to President Trump for appointing New Mexico’s own Steve Pearce to this important position,” Sharer said.

Republican lawmakers pointed to Pearce’s experience in the oil and gas industry as a key reason they support his confirmation.

“Steve Pearce enjoys vast experience in the oil and gas industry,” Sen. David Gallegos, R-Eunice, said.

Federal mineral leases generated nearly $3 billion for New Mexico during fiscal year 2024, according to state figures. That revenue made up roughly 20% of the state’s recurring revenue and positioned New Mexico as the nation’s largest recipient of federal oil and gas revenue.

The agency also oversees nearly 2,300 grazing permits across New Mexico, which Republican lawmakers say are critical to rural economies and livestock producers.

Republicans also criticized policies under former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, arguing that federal energy restrictions negatively impacted New Mexico’s economy. Debates over oil production and public land use remain major political issues throughout the state.

Pearce’s confirmation signals a likely shift in federal land management priorities under the Trump administration, especially in energy-producing Western states where public lands remain central to local economies and the ongoing political debates.