The U.S. Senate confirmed Representative Deb Haaland as President Joe Biden’s secretary of the Department of the Interior—as the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history.
The Interior department has a large staff of more than 70,000 employees and oversees the country’s natural resources, nearly 500 million acres of land. Haaland plans to protect public land, create jobs, particularly in clean energy.
“If an Indigenous woman from humble beginnings can be confirmed as secretary of the Interior, our country holds promise for everyone,” she said. Being a role model and a leader, Haaland has the opportunity to inspire people and policy. Haaland is one of the first two Native American women in Congress.
