Oral history interview with Christina "Christy" W. Goldfuss, 2020
Abstract
Christy Goldfuss discusses her contribution to the climate and environmental policy of the Obama administration, in which she served as the National Parks Service's deputy director for congressional and external affairs from 2013 to 2015, and as managing director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) from 2015 to 2017. At the National Parks Service, Goldfuss was involved with th e designation of new national monuments, and she provides details about the political negotiations, stakeholder relationships, and administrative processes that led to the establishment of the Bears Ears National Monument, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Gold Butte National Monument, the Stonewall National Monument, and the Pullman National Monument. Goldfuss outlines the role of CEQ within the executive branch, its facilitation of coordination between relevant federal agencies, its connections with non-government advocacy organizations, and involvement with major administration initiatives including the Presidential Climate Action Plan and the consideration of climate change impacts in National Environmental Policy Act reviews. Goldfuss also reflects on the Obama administration's neglect of environmental justice concerns, the investments in renewable energy included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the relationship between CEQ and the administration's "all-of-the-above" energy policy. Also discussed are the Parks Service's Every Kid in a Park program, President Obama's trip to Alaska in 2015, and the experience of being pregnant and a mother of young children while working in the Obama White House
Presidents--United States; Climatic changes--United States; Environmental justice--United States; National monuments--United States; Bears Ears National Monument (Utah); Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Hawaii); Gold Butte National Monument (Nevada); Stonewall National Monument (New York, N.Y.); Pullman National Monument (Ill.); Goldfuss, Christina; Obama, Barack; U.S. Public Interest Research Group; Center for American Progress; United States National Park Service; United States Council on Environmental Quality; United States; National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
57 pages
Note (Biographical)
Christy Goldfuss served as both deputy director for congressional external affairs for the National Park Service under President Obama and as chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Prior to her role in the Obama administration, she worked for U.S. Public Interest Research Group as their forest advocate advising the House Resources Committee and Forest Service, and for the Center for American Progress, which she rejoined following the end of Barack Obama's presidency
Note
Interviewed by Douglas Brinkley on December 1, 2020. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Christina W. Goldfuss, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022