Published: Friday, December 11, 2020
Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.). Photo credit: Francis Chung/E&E News
Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) has long been considered a front-runner for Interior secretary in the new administration. Francis Chung/E&E News
This story was updated Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. EST.
The odds could be getting longer for Rep. Deb Haaland to get nominated to be the first Native American to lead the Department of the Interior just as the groundswell of support for her nomination among tribes, activists and her own House colleagues is reaching a fever pitch.
Supporters of the New Mexico Democrat are concerned about increasing pressure on President-elect Joe Biden not to pick any more House Democrats for Cabinet jobs, fearing further dents in the party s all-too-fragile House majority that could make legislating more difficult in a hyperpartisan environment.
Climate Action, Indigenous Rights Groups Among Those Championing Deb Haaland As Interior Secretary this post authored by Julia Conley, Common Dreams staff writer
The national women s rights organization
UltraViolet on Wednesday became the latest group to call on President-elect Joe Biden to appoint Rep. Deb Haaland as secretary of the interior, highlighting the importance of nominating a progressive Indigenous leader to oversee 500 million acres of public land and repair
the historic harms forced on Native communities throughout American history, including the stealing of land.
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Biden Under Pressure to Appoint First Native American to Head Interior Department
Many tribal leaders, environmental groups and progressive activists are urging the president-elect to nominate New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as secretary of the department.
President-elect Joe Biden is under pressure to make history with his pick to lead the Department of the Interior by nominating the first-ever Native American to lead the federal agency, which oversees federal land and natural resources, and administers most programs related to the more than 550 federally recognized tribes.
A leading contender is Deb Haaland, a second-term House of Representatives lawmaker from New Mexico whose potentially history-making nomination has inspired a persuasion campaign by tribal leaders, environmental groups and progressive leaders. They say the congresswoman a lawyer, climate activist and enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo is uniquely suited to be Interior’s first Indigenous leader.
It soon might.
Both the Beltway and New Mexico are abuzz about two Native Americans being considered to become the next secretary of the Department of the Interior. If one is chosen, it would be a milestone.
A Native American has never been a Cabinet secretary, and this job would have the added significance of leading the department that oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education.
One candidate is U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, an Albuquerque Democrat and Laguna Pueblo member who has gathered a groundswell of support in the weeks since Joe Biden was elected president. The other, according to