Investigate Interior’s Wildlife Ethics Scandal

A senior federal wildlife official should not help shape decisions that could benefit her family’s animal-breeding business—or appear as a featured speaker for a trophy-hunting organization while serious ethics questions remain unresolved.

That is why Deputy Assistant Secretary Jenifer 
Chatfield’s reported actions and potential conflicts of interest warrant an independent investigation.

Chatfield's family operates a commercial wildlife-breeding facility. Recent reporting alleges that she became involved in government matters affecting the facility—including its application to renew a federal permit to breed endangered lemurs—prompting members of Congress to call for an ethics investigation.

Her ties also extend into the trophy-hunting world. Days after reportedly leading the U.S. delegation to the 34th meeting of the CITES Animals Committee, Chatfield appeared as a keynote speaker at a Dallas Safari Club luncheon and auction.

Dallas Safari Club has drawn international controversy for auctioning a permit to kill an endangered black rhino and proposing auctions for African elephant hunts. The organization promotes trophy hunting as conservation, while many wildlife advocates reject the idea that endangered animals should be treated as prizes for the highest bidder.

Chatfield’s appearance does not prove an ethics violation.

But it adds to the urgent need for answers.

Interior officials oversee endangered-species permits, trophy imports, captive breeding, wildlife trade, and policies that can determine whether vulnerable animals receive stronger protections or face greater commercial exploitation.

The public deserves to know whether Chatfield properly disclosed her interests, recused herself when required, and kept official decisions free from private influence.

Two senior House Democrats have already asked the Interior Department’s Inspector General to investigate.

Now the watchdog must act.

Please sign the petition demanding a prompt, independent investigation and full public release of the findings. Wildlife protections must serve animals and the public—not private breeders, trophy-hunting interests, or insiders with access to power.

The petition to the Interior Department’s Inspector General reads: Please conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the reported ethics concerns involving Deputy Assistant Secretary Jenifer Chatfield, including her involvement in matters affecting her family’s wildlife-breeding business and her associations with organizations promoting commercial wildlife use. Publicly release your findings, recommend appropriate corrective action, and ensure that federal wildlife decisions are free from actual or apparent conflicts of interest.

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Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/climate/interior-department-ethics-chatfield.html

https://news.mongabay.com/2026/07/official-tied-to-commercial-breeding-to-represent-us-at-global-wildlife-trade-meeting/

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Photo: Trophy room at Dallas Safari Club