On Friday, the Biden administration nominated Martha Williams for Director of USFWS, a role she has been filling on an interim basis for nine months. Williams has a long history with environmental work in the West. She previously served as Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, and as Deputy Solicitor for Parks and Wildlife at the Department of Interior under President Obama. Williams also co-directed the University of Montana’s Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic and worked with the nonprofit Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Given her previous experiences, PLC will remain vigilant in advocating for voluntary conservation incentives, multiple use on federal lands, efficient ESA delistings, and other policy priorities. That said, we are pleased to see the administration making progress on filling this significant vacancy. Williams spoke at the Public Lands Council Annual Meeting in September and expressed her commitment to an approach of conversation, not preservation. She has spoken publicly on her desire to work with agriculture and protect ranchers’ way of life, and we look forward to asking more questions during the confirmation process about what that would look like for USFWS.