Julie MacDonald interfered with every ESA decision for political reasons-
A high-ranking Interior Department official tainted nearly every decision made on the protection of endangered species over five years, a new inspector general report finds, concluding she exerted improper political interference on many more rulings than previously thought.
Julie MacDonald was deputy assistant secretary of Interior. overseeing the Fish and Wildlife Service. This shows how important are the nominations below the level of Secretary of Interior.
Report: Endangered species decisions tainted. The Associated Press
Link to the actual report. pdf file.