Commentary: Today, Congressman Steve Pearce issued the following statement after U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to provide answers to a letter the Congressman’s office sent regarding the Inspector General’s report on the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program. Despite having a month to address the questions posed, the agency has failed to provide a single answer:
“Over a month ago, I sent a letter to Mr. Dan Ashe, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, asking for answers by August 15th. As of now –FWS has failed to provide answers to my office’s inquiry. Their failure to answer my questions is a clear indication they do not feel the need to be accountable to Congress or to the people of New Mexico. As previously reported, the Inspector General’s report highlighted FWS tolerates a culture of lies, falsification, mismanagement, and manipulation of scientific data. These actions are threatening New Mexican livelihoods and have eroded public trust. My office will not be silent on this issue. Our federal agencies must be held accountable to the people and currently Director Ashe is falling short of his duties,” said Congressman Pearce.