editorial Rebalancing the Interior After the tumultuous weeks and months surrounding the 2020 presidential election, the President’s choice for a key post in his administration gives a broad outline of how land-use policy and politics could change going forward.

he Cabinet of the United States is drinking and irrigation water was affected left on American soil), and attempting to sell made up of secretaries of federal by runoff from the mine, triggering serious mineral leases for nearly 13 million acres of Tdepartments who are nominated by health impacts. With this experience, federal lands6. the President but require a confirmation vote Haaland became involved in both activism This history of DOI operations was by the Senate. So far, the biggest headlines and policy making. She participated in the not seen as a cautionary tale by Senate and toughest battle among President Standing Rock protests of 2016 against the Republicans when voting on Haaland’s Biden’s initial nominees have been focused construction of the Dakota Access pipeline nomination, but as a course to be maintained. on his pick for Secretary of the Interior, a in North Dakota, which was thought to Many of them were quite vocal in their view department that affects the daily lives of endanger the ecology and health of Sioux that Haaland was a dangerous choice due to many Americans. The Department of the tribal lands as well as countless farms if the her opposition to fracking on public land, the Interior (DOI) does not handle security pipeline leaked into reservoirs and aquifers. strong approval given to her by the League or policing, but land — and lots of it. The selection of the first Native American of Conservation Voters, and the Biden Two hundred million hectares across the to head the DOI was a major factor in the administration’s announced moratorium on United States are directly overseen by this support for her nomination, as Haaland new oil and gas leases7. However, Haaland department as public lands of varying would be directly supervising both the was ultimately approved by the 100-member jurisdictions and protections, and represent Bureau for Indian Affairs and the Bureau Senate, with key votes coming from moderate 75% of the federal land portfolio. The DOI for Land Management, and would therefore Republicans in what may indicate a desire to is composed of over a dozen agencies, be responsible for reconciling competing rebalance the DOI and its purpose. including the Bureau of Reclamation, which interests for land use and conservation That Haaland was chosen at all reflects a handles the dams and reservoirs that much of policies in and around tribal reservations growing wave of support among Democrats the American West relies upon for irrigation; which often connect with public lands3. and liberals for changes in land-use policy the , which oversees Haaland will also be taking office at a time that has seemingly protected a status quo that natural treasures such as Yellowstone, when the United States’ national parks and favours business, as well as the notion that Yosemite and Joshua Tree; and the Bureau monuments are facing numerous challenges, Native American tribes, environmentalists of Indian Affairs, one of the oldest agencies including maintenance backlogs, road and the outdoor recreation industry are also in the United States government that works construction, and the effects stakeholders who should have equal weight with Native American tribes and reservations of events during the Trump administration, in these decisions. Rebuilding the DOI after on all aspects of daily and economic life. which seemed to show an almost wilful the previous administration will take time Interior secretaries tend to come from the aversion to protecting public lands and the and energy, but proper leadership and a shift West, the region of most of the department’s ecosystems within them. in outlook could lead to a new lasting legacy focus. The department provides leverage For example, construction of the Mexican for public lands in the United States. for enacting policy change, but can also ‘border wall’ has led to the uprooting and It is hoped that will be be problematic. President Trump’s first destruction of saguaro cacti within the given the time and space to restore the DOI’s secretary, , was forced to step Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument commitment to natural landscapes and down within two years due to accusations in Arizona, despite this being a UNESCO public stewardship, and build a record that of abusing the office for personal gain. He international biosphere reserve. These can be exported globally. ❐ also performed a controversial ‘review’ of famous cacti can live for centuries and are national parks that led to an unprecedented protected by state law within a federal park. Published online: 19 April 2021 decision to reduce the Bears Ears National The Department of Homeland Security, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-021-00909-x Monument in Utah by 85%, a site considered responsible for the wall construction, References sacred by Native American tribes in the area claimed that 90% of the cacti were being 1. Grant, W. On the hunt for uranium in Bears Ears. Outside https:// but which may also have uranium and thus replanted, but video footage taken last year go.nature.com/39x4V62 (2018). be valuable for business1. showed hundreds cut up and laying on the 2. Puko, T. Interior secretary nominee on collision course with oil 4 industry. Te Wall Street Journal (14 February 2021); https:// Given this recent history, President ground . Organ Pipe is one of many sites of go.nature.com/2PcJHUl Biden’s choice of candidate is significant. ecological concern caused by the border wall 3. Necefer, D. Te Department of the Interior shaped my life. Deb Haaland, a member of the Laguna construction, which, according to the Fish Outside https://go.nature.com/3czTcy (2021). 4. Romero, S. Tribal nation condemns ‘desecration’ to build border Pueblo tribe of , served one and Wildlife Service, could cause massive wall. Te New York Times (26 February 2020); https://go.nature. 5 term in Congress after years as a lawyer disruptions for flora and fauna in the area . com/2PK8leE and businesswoman for her tribe2. She This is not an isolated incident. Under 5. Barclay, E. & Frostenson, S. Te ecological disaster that is Trump’s describes herself as a ‘35th-generation New the Trump administration, the DOI took border wall: a visual guide. Vox https://go.nature.com/2QIrFJN (2019). Mexican’ due to her ancestral heritage, and many actions that seemingly favoured 6. Tobias, J. Te Zinke efect: how the US interior department her community lived near a uranium mine resource development over preservation of became a tool of big business. Te Guardian (12 November 2018); that has since been declared a Superfund site public lands, including allowing oil drilling https://go.nature.com/39umfZk 7. Fears, D. Deb Haaland’s nomination to lead Interior is a historic (the highest federal government designation in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge frst for Native Americans. Te GOP wants Biden to cancel it. Te for environmental contamination), as (one of the last pieces of untouched frontier Washington Post (19 February 2021); https://go.nature.com/3rLJ15D

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