Rep. Deb Haaland on Verge of Becoming First Native American to Lead Interior

Policy

Congresswoman Deb Haaland, seen here on December 19, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware, is poised to become the next U.S. Secretary of Interior pending Senate confirmation hearings. Alex Edelman / AFP / Getty Images

After a second day of Senate hearings, Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM) is poised to become the first Native to serve as Secretary of the Interior (or any such high-ranking cabinet position.)


It was clear the GOP appeared to hold her to a standard far different from the unqualified or corrupt Trump nominees it approved, with incendiary language and attacks “premised on settler colonialism.

While Indigenous groups and others, like Senator Elizabeth Warren sang her praises, it was moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin who stood as the potentially undecided vote. Coming from fossil-fuel-friendly West Virginia, Manchin’s initial reluctance suggested Haaland’s nomination might be in trouble.

But after her second day of hearings, in which she repeatedly stated she would push the Biden administration’s agenda, Manchin released a statement signaling his support for her nomination, virtually ensuring Haaland will have the votes to make history.

For a deeper dive:

Indian Country Today, Indian Country Today, Indian Country Today, E&E, The Hill, E&E, New York Times, New York Times, AP, Politico, Politico Pro, E&E,The Hill, Vox, Earther, CNN

For more climate change and clean energy news, you can follow Climate Nexus on Twitter and Facebook, sign up for daily Hot News, and visit their news site, Nexus Media News.

EcoWatch Daily Newsletter