Current work in wildlife, rivers, public lands, and climate

Washington, DC—Today, in an historic vote in the U.S. Senate, Deb Haaland was confirmed as the 54th Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Secretary Haaland, a 35th generation New Mexican and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, is the first Indigenous person to run any Cabinet-level department in the history of the United States.

Secretary Haaland is a steadfast champion of bold climate action, environmental justice, Tribal rights, and protection of public lands and endangered wildlife. WildEarth Guardians believes Secretary Haaland is exactly the visionary leader America needs to guide the Interior Department toward justice, equity, conservation, and environmental protection at this pivotal point in history.

During her time in Congress, Secretary Haaland was at the forefront of issues central to the climate and nature crises that the Interior Department must address. The Interior Department must stop the plundering of public lands, protect endangered species, implement policies that nurture an ethic of wildlife coexistence, protect 30% of all lands by 2030, and expand and deepen protection of national parks, monuments, and cultural sites.

In response, Sarah McMillan, WildEarth Guardians’ conservation director, issued the following statement:

“We congratulate Secretary Deb Haaland and celebrate this historic and momentous day when the Department of Interior, which manages more than 450 million acres and houses the Bureau of Indian Affairs, finally has an Indigenous woman to lead the way. As our country is finally awakening to the injustices that Indigenous people have endured, and in the throes of a climate and nature crisis, we must chart a new path after four years of out-of-control exploitation and devastation.

Secretary Haaland is, without doubt, the right person to guide the Department of Interior. As Secretary Haaland takes on this very challenging role, we want her to know that she is not alone. WildEarth Guardians and our members will dig in alongside her to make the essential shifts that are critical, especially when so much—justice, equity, climate action, biodiversity, and public lands—hangs in the balance.”