WASHINGTON (December 17, 2020)—President-elect Joe Biden has named U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico as his nominee for Secretary of the Interior. She’s a strong choice for this vital role and will bring a much-needed perspective to the administration, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Below is a statement by Kathleen Rest, executive director of UCS.
“Rep. Deb Haaland is an excellent choice to lead the Department of the Interior. Rep. Haaland has the experience and values we need at DOI. She understands the roles of federal, state and tribal governments in conservation and development. She knows the role that science and evidence should play in making policy. And in Congress she’s demonstrated a deep concern for environmental justice, conservation and climate change, and would put those values to work as Secretary of the Interior.
“This is a smart appointment, and a historic one. As a member of the Laguna Pueblo, Rep. Haaland has already broken barriers as one of the first Indigenous women to serve in Congress. If confirmed, she would be the first Indigenous person to serve in the federal cabinet. It’s especially meaningful that she would be leading the department that oversees the federal government’s relationship with tribal governments, as well as the lands that hold such cultural, ecological and economic importance to Indigenous groups. Throughout our history, Indigenous people have been excluded from decisions that affect their lives and have been marginalized in federal policy. Rep. Haaland’s nomination represents a chance for a new direction for this important agency.
“In the Trump administration, the Department of the Interior focused on rolling back conservation efforts, sidelining science and opening public lands to mining and fossil fuel extraction to the benefit of powerful industries. This department should be a key part of efforts to fight climate change, advance environmental justice and prioritize public over narrow private interests. Rep. Haaland has the qualifications to lead the way. Rep. Haaland’s confirmation would protect our nation’s ecosystems and the climate—and benefit communities across the country, including Indigenous communities. We urge the U.S. Senate to confirm her next month.”
In 2018, UCS experts released the report “Science Under Siege at the Department of the Interior,” which documented how Trump’s political appointees undermined the department’s mission by systematically suppressing science and interfering with the work of staff.