Critics of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke worry his recently announced resignation will leave his department governed by a less-publicized technocrat.
Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt could likely lead the Department of the Interior (DOI) after Zinke departs at the end of the year. Bernhardt is known to be hard-working and has years of experience navigating the DOI’s bureaucracy as a federal employee.
Democrats and critics worry Bernhardt will be just as or more efficient than Zinke at implementing President Donald Trump’s agenda without attracting as much media and watchdog scrutiny.
Bernhardt’s rise mirrors that of Andrew Wheeler’s at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Wheeler began running the agency as acting administrator after Scott Pruitt resigned in July. Wheeler has continued to roll back federal environmental regulations while waiting for the Senate to confirm him as the EPA’s next head.
Bernhardt is in the running to be Trump’s next nominee to run the DOI. (RELATED: The Hunt Is On To Find Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s Replacement)
David Bernhardt testifies in front of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. (Youtube/SenateEnergy/Screenshot)
“We may rue the day that we lost these giants of malfeasance and replaced them with much more low-key technocrats,” New York University public service professor Paul Light told The Washington Post, referring to Zinke and Pruitt’s replacements.
“Deputy Secretary Bernhardt has made it his mission to stifle climate science and silence the public so polluters can profit,” Jamie Williams, president of the Wilderness Society, told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “Unfortunately, even with Secretary Zinke out, the Interior Department remains disturbingly biased in favor of special interests over the health of American communities and the public lands that they love.”
GOP Nevada Sen. Dean Heller, GOP Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead and GOP Utah Rep. Rob Bishop are also names reportedly at the top of Trump’s list to replace the outgoing Interior secretary.
The DOI’s press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.