Last month, a federal judge in Montana said William Perry Pendley cannot continue at the helm of the Bureau of Land Management because he has served as acting chief for over a year. But despite the court ruling, Pendley continues to say he is leading the agency, even if the orders have to be signed by the Interior Secretary. POLITICO’s Kelsey Tamborrino reports that the conflict is starting to cost the federal government, as a federal judge struck down some of the agency’s actions in Montana over the past year. Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Kelsey Tamborrino is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Carlos Prieto is a Politico podcast producer. Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.