Bernhardt confirmed as Deputy Secretary of the Interior

David Bernhardt has been confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. On Jul. 24, the U.S. Senate voted 53 to 43 in favor of Bernhardt’s nomination to fill the vacant position. Bernhardt was first announced as President Trump’s nominee on Apr. 28, followed by a confirmation hearing in May. During Bernhardt’s confirmation hearing, the now-Deputy Secretary expressed his commitment to support Secretary Zinke and to make decisions based on integrity and within the confines of the law. Bernhardt previously held various roles at Interior from 2001 to 2009 — including Solicitor and director of congressional and legislative affairs, among others. Prior to his nomination, Bernhardt served as chairman of the natural resources department at the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP and recently held a seat on the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Even with discussions heavily focused on ethics concerns throughout the nomination process, Bernhardt received bipartisan support in the committee and full Senate votes.

Read the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Press Release