department officials to loosen restrictions. records reviewed by cnn show bernhardt involved in three meetings with interior officials on the issue, ipaa and other groups thanked bernhardt for his involvement and by december of 2018, the trump administration released a plan to amend sage grous protections and open vast swaths of western land for oil drilling. the industry requests and actions taken go on and on, fracking, offshore drilling, easing of safety requirements, former clients asking and receiving favorable decisions from the government agency run by the former oil lobbyist. >> we're talking about the literal fox guarding the hen house. this administration doesn't seem to mind the notion that a lobbyist is not going to regulate the very industry that they used to work for. >> reporter: bernhardt spokesman said the acting secretary is fully in compliance with his recusal agreements and critics