Who Will Take Ryan Zinke’S Place Inside?

President Trump is set to announce his pick for replacing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who will be leaving the administration at the end of the year. Zinke’s shoes will be filled on an acting basis by his deputy, David Bernhardt, a former lobbyist for the oil, gas, and water industries that rely on the Interior’s decisions. Zinke is facing federal investigations into his travel, political activity, and potential conflicts of interest. A new government investigation has claimed that Zinke lied to ethics officials over a land deal in Montana. Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western, believes that Zinke will go down as the most anti-conservation Interior secretary in our nation’s history.

The Senate has voted to confirm David Bernhardt to lead the Department of the Interior. Bernhardt has been serving as acting Interior Secretary since Zinke’s departure. Trump was said to have considered several choices to replace Zinke, including Bernhardt, former Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller, and Utah GOP candidate Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes.

As Trump is expected to name a replacement for Zinke as early as this week, advocates are eager to learn more about the potential successor. Zinke will be leaving the administration on January 2, 2019, to be replaced by his deputy, David Bernhardt.