Washington Governor Bob Ferguson faces delayed commission probe and rising costs

Governor Bob Ferguson of Washington has launched an investigation into the state Fish and Wildlife Commission following a 2022 decision to ban spring black‑bear hunting. The inquiry, conducted by Transformative Workplace Investigations, has cost nearly $80,000 and could rise to $130,000, more than triple the original estimate. The report, originally due last fall, has been postponed repeatedly and is now slated for release on July 31, just before the investigator’s contract ends.

Commission members were accused by the national Sportsmen’s Alliance of violating open‑meeting and public‑records rules, prompting a petition to remove four commissioners. While Ferguson has not commented publicly, he retains the authority to dismiss any commissioner for misconduct, malfeasance, or incompetence under state law dating back to 1893.