Deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is now serving as the acting head of the Interior Department.
Bernhardt, a former lobbyist who represented energy interests, showed up Wednesday at a White House Cabinet meeting after former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke penned a farewell note in red marker that he posted on Twitter after officially stepping down.
“It’s been a high honor to serve @POTUS & the American People as @Interior Secretary,” Zinke tweeted.
The president at the meeting was flanked by Bernhardt on one side and acting defense secretary Patrick Shanahan on the other.
It’s been a high honor to serve @POTUS & the American People as @Interior Secretary. We’ve restored public lands “for the benefit & enjoyment of the people,” improved public access & shall never be held hostage again for our energy needs. God bless America & those who defend her. pic.twitter.com/JXzVmrpDTg
— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) January 2, 2019
Interior spokeswoman Heather Swift confirmed that Bernhardt is officially the acting secretary.
Zinke had departed the Trump Cabinet on Wednesday amid a Justice Department probe into his use of his federal position for personal gain.
Bernhardt appears to be Trump’s safest choice to serve as the next interior secretary because of his experience in government and his qualifications to do the job that exceeded Zinke’s.
“He has more experience in that building working on these issues than any predecessor,” Jon Hrobsky, an attorney who worked with Bernhardt in former President George W. Bush’s Interior Department, told the Washington Examiner. “The uniqueness of David for this job is there has never been anyone more qualified to do it.”
