President Trump's nominee for under secretary of agriculture, Michael Boren, is under fire for building an unauthorized airstrip and threatening Forest Service workers, prompting worries about his leadership of the Forest Service.
Michael Boren's Controversial Nomination Draws Fire Amid Allegations
Michael Boren's Controversial Nomination Draws Fire Amid Allegations
Michael Boren, a potential leader of the U.S. Forest Service, faces scrutiny for environmental violations at his Idaho ranch, raising concerns over his ability to manage public lands.
Michael Boren, a billionaire tech entrepreneur and ranch owner, has been nominated by President Trump to be the under secretary of agriculture for natural resources and environment, a position that would give him oversight of the Forest Service. However, Boren’s turbulent history with federal land management raises significant concerns.
Boren owns the Hell Roaring Ranch located in Idaho's Sawtooth National Recreation Area. His disputes with the U.S. Forest Service have been widely reported, including allegations that he flew a helicopter dangerously close to a trail worksite, resulting in calls for a restraining order against him. The Forest Service had previously reprimanded Boren for constructing a private airstrip on his ranch without the necessary permits and recently issued a cease-and-desist order to a company he controlled for building an unauthorized cabin on federal property.
A confirmation hearing with the Senate Agriculture Committee is set for Tuesday, where legislators will examine Boren’s qualifications and past conflicts with the agency he aims to lead. If confirmed, he will have control over nearly 200 million acres of public lands, crucial for everything from timber sales to wildfire management and trail maintenance.
This nomination comes at a pivotal moment, as the current administration has been actively rolling back environmental protections, including an order from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that removed protections from over 112 million acres of national forests, primarily in the western U.S. These actions coincide with Trump’s executive orders aimed at increasing logging operations by 25% on federal lands and a broader agenda to downsize the federal workforce. Given his contentious history and the current political climate, Boren's appointment raises pressing questions regarding the future of conservation efforts and public land management.
Boren owns the Hell Roaring Ranch located in Idaho's Sawtooth National Recreation Area. His disputes with the U.S. Forest Service have been widely reported, including allegations that he flew a helicopter dangerously close to a trail worksite, resulting in calls for a restraining order against him. The Forest Service had previously reprimanded Boren for constructing a private airstrip on his ranch without the necessary permits and recently issued a cease-and-desist order to a company he controlled for building an unauthorized cabin on federal property.
A confirmation hearing with the Senate Agriculture Committee is set for Tuesday, where legislators will examine Boren’s qualifications and past conflicts with the agency he aims to lead. If confirmed, he will have control over nearly 200 million acres of public lands, crucial for everything from timber sales to wildfire management and trail maintenance.
This nomination comes at a pivotal moment, as the current administration has been actively rolling back environmental protections, including an order from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that removed protections from over 112 million acres of national forests, primarily in the western U.S. These actions coincide with Trump’s executive orders aimed at increasing logging operations by 25% on federal lands and a broader agenda to downsize the federal workforce. Given his contentious history and the current political climate, Boren's appointment raises pressing questions regarding the future of conservation efforts and public land management.
