BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) In a significant turn of events, President Donald Trumps nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Kathleen Sgamma, has officially withdrawn her nomination. This decision comes on the heels of her past criticisms of Trump regarding his actions related to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, during which she expressed her disapproval of the violence and the misinformation propagated by the president.

The announcement of Sgamma's withdrawal was made public on Thursday, coinciding with the onset of her confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This timing further emphasizes the contentious nature of her nomination and the challenges she faced in gaining support.

David Bernhardt, who served as Secretary of the Interior under Trump, characterized Sgammas exit as self-inflicted. He suggested that those whose opinions diverge from Trumps should reconsider their aspirations for political appointments. Bernhardt's remarks highlight a recurring theme within the Trump administration, where loyalty and alignment with the presidents views have often been deemed critical for securing government roles.

In 2021, Sgamma publicly expressed her disgust over the violence of January 6th and criticized Trumps role in inciting it, stating, I am disgusted by the violence witnessed yesterday and President Trumps role in spreading misinformation that incited it. These comments were first reported by Documented, a journalism project focused on watchdog reporting, and have resurfaced to challenge her candidacy.

Despite her withdrawal, Sgamma was previously regarded as a strong candidate to implement Trumps agenda, which included rolling back environmental restrictions on energy development across vast areas of public land, particularly in the Western states where the BLM exercises substantial oversight. The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for managing approximately a quarter-billion acres of public land, which encompasses not only energy exploration but also mining, grazing, and recreational activities.

Aaron Weiss, a representative from the left-leaning Center for Western Priorities, noted that Sgammas withdrawal illustrates the Trump administration's tendency to enforce a loyalty test aimed at filtering out individuals who do not align with the presidents ideologies. This approach has been particularly evident in the BLM, which employed around 10,000 people at the outset of Trumps second term and notably went four years without a confirmed director during his first term.

Additionally, under Trump's administration, the BLMs headquarters was controversially relocated to Colorado before being returned to Washington, D.C., under President Joe Biden. These administrative changes reflect broader tensions and shifts in policy priorities between the two administrations.