WASHINGTON – President Trump announced Monday on Twitter that he was moving acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt into the gig full-time.
“I am pleased to announce that David Bernhardt, Acting Secretary of the Interior, will be nominated as Secretary of the Interior. David has done a fantastic job from the day he arrived, and we look forward to having his nomination officially confirmed!” Trump wrote.
Bernhardt’s nomination will have to be approved by the Senate.
Bernhardt became the acting secretary of the agency on Jan. 2, replacing Ryan Zinke, who stepped down in mid-December amid a Justice Department investigation looking into whether he used his office for personal gain.
Bernhardt is a former oil lobbyist. He was Zinke’s No. 2 at the Interior department prior to being elevated into the acting role.
Environmentalists were quick to criticize Trump’s decision.
Jennifer Rokala, director of the Center for Western Priorities, criticized the appointment, pointing out to his close ties to the fossil fuel industry as an oil and gas lobbyist.
But in recent weeks, he has softened his tone somewhat as acting secretary, announcing plans for a major offshore wind project during the government shutdown.