Madam Secretary

Senate Confirms Haaland as Interior Secretary; Marks First Indigenous Person to Oversee Native Treaty Rights and Ceded Indigenous lands

Debra Anne Haaland (Laguna / Jemez Pueblo) became the first Indigenous person to be the interior secretary, by a vote of 51–40. Her confirmation came amidst Republican backlash and delays over the Biden administration’s prioritization of climate change over energy.

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Laguna Pueblo congresswoman Deb Haaland of New Mexico has been confirmed as the secretary of the interior, making her the first Indigenous Cabinet secretary in the history of the United States.

Haaland was confirmed by the Senate on Monday evening. The final vote was 51 to 40, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) among Republican senators supporting Haaland.

The second-term congresswoman’s confirmation process was mired in debate over her past stance against fossil fuels. For two days, energy-backed Senate Republicans blasted Haaland over her past statements over oil extraction, including activism shared with Water Protectors demonstrating against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock.

The Senate Energy Committee advanced Haaland’s nomination earlier this month and was met with delays last week by Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) who placed holds on her nomination citing concerns about energy economies in their home states.