Interior Nominee Donates to Trump Two Days After Nomination

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Services Nominee Aurelia Skipwith’s Only Campaign Contribution In the Last Ten Years Was To… Trump for President 

Questions have been raised concerning Aurelia Skipwith, the nominee to be Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services after Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) revealed that Skipwith’s only campaign donation in the last ten years was made to the Trump campaign, only days after she was officially nominated.  

“Fish and Wildlife Services may not be important to Secretary Bernhardt and President Trump, but it plays a vitally important role in thousands of communities across the West,” said Jayson O’Neill, Deputy Director of the Western Values Project. “The fact is that Aurelia Skipwith’s only qualifications for this job are her close ties to special interests and now her maxed-out contribution to Trump’s reelection. The Administration should go back to the drawing board and put forward a nominee who is actually qualified to serve.” 

Aurelia Skipwith joined the Trump Administration with little to no relevant public lands experience and spent virtually her entire career at agribusiness conglomerate Monsanto. Her nomination has raised serious concerns among advocates and watchdog groups.

Background: 

Skipwith’s only political contribution over the past ten years was to Donald Trump for President, Inc.’s campaign. It came on July 19, 2019, only two days after her official nomination. Skipwith donated the maximum amount an individual can contribute, $5,600. It is illegal for federal employees to solicit political contributions from anyone at any time. 

Aurelia Skipwith’s donation to the Trump campaign was two days after her
nomination to be Director of Fish and Wildlife Services

For more information on Aurelia Skipwith’s background, visit Department of Influence, Western Values Project’s one-stop resource that documents the revolving door between special interest lobbyists and political appointees at the Department of the Interior. 

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