Wyoming’s Bureau of Land Management state director has been placed on administrative leave after a federal investigation found he violated ethics regulations.
Andrew Archuleta accepted a gift of dinner and drinks, misused his assistant’s time when he asked her to make travel arrangements for his girlfriend and drove his girlfriend to and from Buffalo in a government vehicle — all in violation of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch, according to a February investigation summary from the Office of Inspector General.
Archuleta was placed on leave in April, BLM Wyoming Senior Advisor Brad Purdy confirmed Wednesday. Kris Kirby has been named acting state director, Purdy said.
Archuleta was selected to helm the state’s BLM office in January 2022. In the position, he has overseen the management of 17.5 million surface acres of public lands and more than 40 million acres of federal sub-surface mineral lands. He directed an office with more than 600 permanent staff and 150 seasonal employees who help manage everything from energy development and livestock grazing to campgrounds, multi-use trails, outdoor recreation spots and wild horses.
He occupied the spot during a time of tumult and national attention. The 2023 release of the draft Rock Springs Field Office Resource Management Plan sparked furor and heated debate over how to manage some 3.6 million acres of public lands in southwestern Wyoming. The plan spurred state intervention, drew thousands of comments and triggered fierce criticism of the federal government by elected officials and others.
Gifts, travel, rental cars
The Office of Inspector General investigated allegations that Archuleta may have violated the ethical conduct standards when he “accepted a gift of dinner and drinks at a Cheyenne, Wyoming, steakhouse from the owner of a commercial sign manufacturing company,” according to the investigation summary.
Investigators found that he was in violation in that matter, according to the summary. They also determined Archuleta misused his subordinate’s time when he asked his assistant to make air travel arrangements on the clock for his girlfriend to accompany him on official travel, the summary states.
“In addition, we determined that Archuleta misused a Government rental vehicle in violation of DOI policy when he allowed his girlfriend to drive the rental vehicle and that he violated the Federal Travel Regulation when he used the Government rental car for personal purposes,” the summary continues.
Finally, investigators found Archuleta violated policy when he drove his girlfriend to and from Buffalo in a government vehicle “because she was neither a Federal employee nor conducting official Government business there.”
Background
Archuleta’s career in federal service stretches back three decades, according to a BLM press release that announced his 2022 selection. His former assignments include BLM Colorado’s Northwest District manager and district manager for BLM’s California Desert District. He has also worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
“His understanding of rural communities and the challenges they face coupled with the expertise he has developed will continue to benefit the BLM and the Wyoming communities and constituencies we serve,” former BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said in the 2022 announcement.
Archuleta, a Colorado native, earned both a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and a master’s degree in wildlife toxicology from Colorado State University. He is an avid outdoorsman, according to the BLM.
Purdy could not comment on further action or future steps regarding Archuleta’s position.
WyoFile was unable to contact Archuleta on Wednesday for comment.
CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to reflect Brad Purdy’s current title. – Ed.
Great Reporting Katie. ! Zero in on the BLM bogus removal of wilderness horses off grazing lands that the Beef Industry wants for their cattle. Expose the cruel round ups with helicopters that terrify the horses. Expose the reality that BLM does treat the herds with Birth Contrl methods Congress requested. And uncover they ugly truth that BLM already has 60 thousand wild horses stuffed in cramped pens on cattle ranches waiting for? The slaughter pipeline to brutal savage deaths in Canada and Mexico? Uncover these horrors that No American in their right mind wants, except employees for BLM and rich ranchers.
Given the massive corruption occurring with the Trump and Co, this is a joke.
Trump’s use of crypo is so toxic to any public accountability I just have to laugh when I read about these conflict of interest stories in government.
So, who ratted him out? My money is on the assistant.
You have to wonder about the politics behind both the investigation and its consequences. Sure, Archuleta’s actions would conform to definitions of conflict of interest for civil servants — even journalists. But on a range of severity, does having a commercial sign manufacturer — someone, on the surface at least, who probably has nothing to do with the BLM’s task — pick up a dinner tab rank as a really serious ethical violation against, say, something like insider trading? Does using a government vehicle for personal needs merit suspension from a job? Why not payment of restitution for company time expended, fuel used, and vehicle depreciation for those personal errands? One gets the real sense that the fate of those 3.6 million acres in the state’s southwest are the real reasons for Archuleta’s administrative leave. The Trump administration — and by definition the Wyoming congressional delegation and most of the state legislature — probably sees Archuleta as an impediment to whatever it wants to do on all public land.
The hard to miss irony behind all this is the date on the report and which federal agency made it: Feb. 25, 2025, issued by the investigators of the federal Office of Inspector General. By late February, the Trump-Musk administration had pretty much dismantled that office. Yet it could find both the personnel and time to go head hunting in Wyoming. I guess in Washington, DC, it’s open season on managers of the nation’s public lands.
How can anyone care about ethics when the president is a convicted felon?
So……..Mr. Archuleta had his office assistant make a phone call to arrange a plane ticket (at his cost) for a girlfriend. Oh the horror so ya, lock him up. While we’re at it, lockup the Wyoming Three that we’ve sent to DC. They’ve been illegally and willfully aiding and abetting a known and convicted felon in the white house
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone………….
Maybe good riddance to this bureaucrat, who was presented scads of info regarding the overgrazing and neglect by Cody BLM employees regarding the heart mountain range yet did nothing
Dinner? Drinks? A rental car? The irony has no bounds, as an immoral, lying felon sits in the oval office and commits serious crimes daily.
I know Director Archuleta and have spoken to him a number of times. He is a high quality individual and Wyoming is lucky to have him. He has spoken at a number of conferences I have attended and was always very approachable to answer questions and concerns. I am a Republican and please don’t compare this high quality Federal Employee to some of the national figures that have been mentioned. I am sure that some mistakes might have been made but really I would hate to see Wyoming lose his expertise over a dinner, drinks, car rental & asking his assistant for some help in booking a flight for the Girl Friend on his dime I am guessing while they are booking his flight.
I began reading this article with interest, since it seemed to be dealing with uncovering and punishing ethics violations, which has been absent due to all the corruption in Federal and State government. Now I see that it is simply business as usual…divisive unethical overreach to punish a guy with the wrong hat color. This violation by the director could have been easily dealt with by a pointed discussion by his supervisor.
BLM Direct, Andrew Archuleta can join the ranks of Clarence Thomas, who also accepted very expensive gifts and travel and has been accused of ethics violations, but he hasn’t lost his job.
Poor tradecraft. He should have used crypto for his ill deeds, which is the new industry standard. Tweet something nice about Diaper Don and get a full pardon and re-instatement. There’s ways to fix these things.
Wow! When they are out to get you, any minor violation will be used. The enumerated “offenses” are petty and likely valued under $200. What was the value of the “investigators” time to bring down this massive corruption?
Under this current (Trump) regime, I’m shocked to read that there are concerns of ethics violations regarding the WY BLM Director. Heck, in the oval office there are 100’s if not 1,000’s of ethics violations committed daily by not only the orange man but his lackey department secretaries
The BLM doesn’t make ethics violations. The BLM is an ethics violation.
Meanwhile, Trump golfs every weekend at the cost of millions of dollars to the taxpayers. Visiting world leaders stay at his hotels, etc………
Gordon. Joe Biden had 570 days of “vacation” while President. 1460 days was his term so that works out to 39% of his term in office.
Joe Biden is gone. Now you need to worry about the most corrupt president in my lifetime- he’s even worse than Nixon.
Larry Skow. Yes, thank you!
I’m glad somebody sees the big picture here!
Congress works less than 50% of the year.
I question your data & definitions. Source please?
Not a good thing for Wyoming, but should we talk about Supreme Court Justices to keep this all in perspective?
Please remove the cattle from the grazing land. Please put America’s Wild Horses back where they belong. Ranchers want cattle, they should make sure they have their own damm land.
Linda. Cattle grazing on federal land could and should be a benefit to all. But ranchers should pay more per head. Cattle number should be strictly controlled to prevent over grazing. Removal dates should be strictly enforced. Penalties for not doing so. Not just money. But maybe rancher banned from holding grazing rights for a 5 year time period. The land does need grazing. But oversee it better
That’s not what this post is about.
Kerry. Yes it is. I merely answered her post.
Linda, I agree with you about ranches. Hard to think about these as ethics violations when we have what we look at in the White House today.
Linda, I totally agree with you!
Since when is the current federal government and specifically this executive branch concerned with ethics violations!? Seriously!? The entire concept of ethics let alone being in violation of them simply does not exist in this administration’s reality. Say I’m wrong all you want, but 90+ injunctions (and counting) by Federal Judges say otherwise. I’m all for holding officials responsible for the ethics they were sworn to uphold and we absolutely should. But it starts at the top. And the top has made it crystal clear that they do not care nor even understand the concept of ethics let alone have a grasp as to its role/purpose in government. We are literally living in a vacuum of ethics in leadership right now all the way from DC to UW, so why is this guy getting singled out? Oh right, the Resource Management Plan for the Red Desert…..
I agree. Lead by example. Something that seems to have died a quiet death in the past decade. While Archuleta’s actions do constitute violations of ethics regulations, they are miniscule when compared to things like Hegseth and his Signal chat faux pas. And yes I do whole heartedly agree that someone whispered in someone else’s ear about his inappropriate use of government staff, equipment and time because of the Red Desert RMP. That person or persons had a burning desire to bring him down a notch and maybe bulldoze him out of the way. Some people really do disgust me!
David. This man is a Biden selection for the job. Is that the corrupt administration your criticism is of? If you read the article you will note that. But it is far critical assessment of the man. But he has 30 years in. He can ride off into the sunset with his retirement intact.
My thoughts exactly. He’s being targeted for a dinner and drinks and a rental car? There’s way more corruption going in on than that. Red herring.
Kerry. What do you over look? Again. This investigation would have started under Biden administration. Government simply doesn’t move that fast
Where are the wild horses? Is this the man responsible for the horses and the mountain goats in Snake River Canyon that were killed?
Yes Ellie, like the mustang that was just shot. Because he was a little emaciated coming out of winter. A grandson of Cloud.
As a former BLM employee, I can say that these “violations” are common occurrences. Archuleta has a great record and actually spoke up for protecting the Red Desert. They are probably ousting him because he is not part of the WY “drill baby drill” crowd and not to mention a diverse voice in a state where most voices sound the same…
I say they’re straining a knat and swallowing a camel
Kaycee. You as ex employee system must know that the investigation would have started prior to Trump administrative team was in place. These type investigations take 8 months to a year. They are not taken lightly.
Not under the orange menace, some don’t even get an investigation.