Ryan Zinke

“We have been held hostage by the environmental terrorist groups that have not allowed public access, that refuse to allow the harvest of timber.”

—Ryan Zinke, in his explanation for the cause of the 2018 California wildfires.

Fmr. Secretary of the Interior

Mar. 1, 2017 – Jan. 2, 2019

Another record holder in the Trump administration, Ryan Zinke managed in under two years to rack up an impressive 18 federal investigations and inquiries into his actions as Secretary of the Interior. Unashamed and pompous (even by the administrations standards), Zinke was accused of everything from threatening a state senator and blocking health studies to outrageous personal office expenses and abuse of taxpayer funded chartered flights.

Despite claiming to be a nature enthusiast and a real “Teddy Roosevelt guy”, Zinke has gone to great lengths to prove himself much more of an “industry-sellout guy”. In fact, throughout his political career Zinke has argued that, rather than protect land for public use, the government should sell-off public land to private entities and moneyed interests to exploit as they see fit.

As if to hammer the point home, and in an act so offensively contradictory to the values of the eminent conservationist and 26^th president as to almost be comical – Zinke oversaw the greatest reduction of protected lands and National Parks in the nation’s history and opening vast swathes of previously protected land to resource extractors.

Ryan Zinke | OpenSecrets

Ryan Zinke | Department of Influence

Notables

Recommended reducing five National Monuments, two significantly and one by 85%. Interior Department emails reveal plan to open the protected land for coal, oil and gas extraction against the will of local Native American tribes, environmental groups and local officials.

Oil Was Central in Decision to Shrink Bears Ears Monument, Emails Show | New York Times (3.2.18)

Opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to exploratory seismic studies in search of exploitable oil and gas fields in the formerly protected public lands.

Trump Admin Moves to Open Arctic Refuge to Drilling Studies | New York Times (9.16.17)

Justice Department is investigating conflicts of interest regarding a multi-million-dollar real estate, deal funded by a chairman of the Halliburton oil company (and donor to Zinke political campaigns), in which Zinke appeared to use his office to benefit himself. The violation carries up to five years in prison – but such charges are at the discretion of Trumps attorney general William Barr, and so not likely to be pursued.

Zinke’s Legal Troubles Are Far From Over | New York Times (12.16.18)

Actively sought to suppress climate data and silence climate scientists, even omitting the subject from its strategic planning documents and from agency handbooks.

Trump and Zinke Are Purging Climate Scientists for Telling the Truth | The Nation (8.2.17)

Took taxpayer funded chartered flight for $12,375 to Las Vegas to give a 12-minute speech to an NHL team owned by a major donor to Zinke’s congressional campaign.

Watchdog: Zinke could have avoided charter flight with hockey team | The Hill (5.6.18)

Spent an absurd $139,000 to replace the doors to his office.

Interior spending $139K to fix doors in Sec. Zinke’s office | Associated Press (3.8.18)

Said he hadn’t abused private charter jets because the aircraft he flew on had propellers, not “jets”.

Cabinet chaos: Trump’s team battles scandal, irrelevance | Associated Press (3.14.18)

Halted a scientific study into the public health risks of mountaintop-removal coal mining to surrounding communities. The study was initiated after several reviews and a 2011 study found elevated rates of lung cancer, kidney disease, and birth defects.

Coal Mining Health Study Is Halted by Interior Department | New York Time, (8.21.17)

An inspector general inquiry was launched into Zinke’s decision to block two Native American tribes from expanding casino operation – the decision was made after meetings and discussion with lobbyists with the casino operator MGM Resorts.

Tribe says ‘improper political influence’ led Zinke to scuttle casino | POLITICO (10.17.18)

Rescinded a ban on lead-ammunition and lead fishing tackle from being used on national wildlife refuges.

New Interior Secretary Zinke reverses lead-ammunition ban | Missoulian (3.2.17)

Allegations of improper use of military funds for personal travel.

Secretary of the Interior