"Two advocacy groups are threatening to sue Interior Secretary David Bernhardt if he allows the acting directors of the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service to remain in place after their terms expire next week.
At issue is Bernhardt's decision to add "exercising the authority of director" to the titles of William Perry Pendley at BLM and David Vela at NPS. Pendley is technically BLM's deputy director of policy and programs; Vela is NPS' deputy director for operations.
Bernhardt earlier this month signed an amended order allowing Pendley and Vela to continue exercising the authority of the directors at BLM and NPS until May 5.
Both Pendley and Vela have been serving as acting chiefs for months."