Trump Administration Withdraws Nomination for Bureau of Reclamation Leader
The Trump administration has withdrawn the nomination of Ted Cooke, a veteran water expert from Arizona, to lead the federal agency that oversees water management in the western U.S. Cooke, the former general manager of the Central Arizona Project, was tapped by Trump in June to head the Bureau of Reclamation, but his nomination was removed from the Senate confirmation hearing agenda earlier this month.
According to Cooke, he was informed that there was an unspecified issue with his background check, but he believes this was a fabricated excuse to avoid discussing the real issue. Cooke stated, “The real story here is that I’ve been sacrificed on the altar of political expediency because of party politics and maybe Colorado River basin intrigues.” He expressed disappointment and frustration, saying he didn’t know what the issue was and that the White House didn’t offer any details.
Colorado River Negotiations and Water Management
The Bureau of Reclamation and seven states are facing a deadline to decide how to share the Colorado River amid ongoing drought and shrinking water supplies. The Colorado River is a critical lifeline to seven U.S. states, more than 20 Native American tribes, and two Mexican states, providing electricity to millions of homes and businesses, irrigating vast stretches of desert farmland, and reaching faucets in cities throughout the Southwest, including Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Water managers have been grappling with the prospect of painful cuts in water supplies as the river dwindles. Officials in other Western states had concerns that Cooke would give deference to his home state as negotiations over the future of the Colorado River come to a head. However, Anne Castle, former chair of the Upper Colorado River Commission, said the withdrawal of Cooke’s nomination “looks like backroom politics at a time when what we really need is straightforward leadership on western water issues.”
FILE – The Central Arizona Project canal runs through rural desert near Phoenix, Oct. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Reaction and Next Steps
Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, said that while Cooke’s withdrawal is a lost opportunity to have a highly qualified person in the job, it’s not likely to disrupt ongoing negotiations. She stated that the bureau’s acting leadership has been working assiduously to figure out a way forward for river management. It’s unclear whether the Trump administration is considering other candidates for the top post at the bureau.
Mesa, Arizona, Mayor Mark Freeman expressed disappointment, saying “Mr. Cooke has dedicated his career to managing Arizona’s water resources, and his deep knowledge of the Colorado River system would have provided valuable insight during this critical time.” Freeman highlighted the need to ensure reliable water supplies, saying “although his nomination was not confirmed, the challenges before us remain.”
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