From her law offices in Cheyenne to those offices at the Department of Interior in Washington, DC, Karen Budd-Falen has certainly distinguished herself as an alumnus of Big Piney High School. From whichever of the many offices and positions that Karen Budd-Falen has found herself is a steadfast dedication to the rights of property owners pursuant to the use of federal and state lands predominately in the west.
Karen Budd received her undergraduate degrees and law degree from the University of Wyoming. In 1992, together with her husband Frank Falen, they established Budd-Falen Law Offices of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Prior to co-owning this law office, Karen served in a variety of positions as she made her way through the legal system. In the early 80’s, she spent time in Washington, D.C., as a law clerk and special assistant within the U.S. Department of Interior. From the mid to late 80’s, Budd-Falen served as an intern in the Wyoming State House of Representatives. There she drafted legislation for House standing committees with jurisdiction over agriculture, wildlife, recreation, transportation and tourism. With this background, Karen continued as an Attorney at Law for Mountain States Legal Foundation in Denver and then to Drey, Madison and Thompson in Cheyenne before opening the Budd-Falen Offices.
Most recently, the name of Karen Budd-Falen was forwarded by the Secretary of Interior to become the next Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). She began her Senate confirmation process by completing an FBI background check. On to the White House Ethics Office where conditions of her appointment began to unfold. From changing the name of their law firm, to recusing herself from cases as well as Frank recusing himself or better yet, retiring from their law firm, conditions seemed to get harder to accept. The final request proved to be just too much of sacrifice. She was told that she would have to sell her ownership in her family ranch in Big Piney, WY. A fifth-generation owner of the ranch found it a request that could not be agreed upon. In addition, the White House Ethics Office told Frank he would have to sell his family’s ranch in Nevada. The Ethics Office cited that any decision affecting ranchers or BLM permittees would be “conflict of interests”. According to Karen, “It took but “two seconds” to turn down the BLM director job. Frank and I are ranchers first and foremost. Selling our ranches would be like selling our right legs and that was just a price that neither Frank or I were willing to pay.”
Karen Budd-Falen did get an appointment as Deputy Solicitor at the Department of Interior where she represents the west in writing and implementing policies designed to give local governments a strong voice in federal decisions that impact our communities.
Budd-Falen has authored many publications and testimonies most of which involve environmental issues as well as ranching issues. As a result of her unyielding efforts, Karen has also been honored with two prestigious awards from the Arizona and New Mexico Coalition of Counties for Stable Economic Growth: The Founding Father Award in 1999 and Individual of the Year in 2011. She was Inducted into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2001. She also received the Bud Eppers Award form the New Mexico Public Land Council.
In keeping with her ranching ties, Karen gives back through the local Future Farmers of America (FFA) where her chapter has received National Championship honors in 2010 and 2012.
Karen credits her roots and the education she received in Big Piney that have strongly influenced who she is and what she has accomplished. Although not living in Wyoming with her family, she is honored to serve the country as a representative from the rural West.