The U.S. Senate voted on April 11 to confirm David Bernhardt to serve as the secretary of the interior by a largely party-line vote of 56-41.
Senators Martin Heinrich (D-Minnesota) and Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) sided with Republicans in supporting his confirmation. Bernhardt will be the second interior secretary of the Donald J. Trump administration, replacing Ryan Zinke, who stepped aside in January 2019.
Bernhardt worked in several positions at the Department of the Interior, including as solicitor general under the George W. Bush administration. He also spent time representing energy and environment clients at the lobbying firm of Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck.
As interior secretary, Bernhardt will be responsible for the federal agency that houses the U.S. Geological Survey and Bureau of Reclamation.