David Bernhardt, the Interior Department deputy that will likely fill recently resigned Ryan Zinke’s shoes as acting secretary at the end of the month, is a Washington insider with government and private sector experience who can implement President Trump’s “energy dominance agenda” without distraction.

But opponents say Bernhardt’s past lobbying history for the oil and gas industry makes him unqualified for the role, which would require him to oversee the country’s 500 million acres of public land, including 59 national parks.