Malcolm Rivera
The head of the United States Department of the Interior is the Secretary of the Interior. The current secretary is Doug Burgum, who was sworn in on February 1, 2025. The Department of the Interior is responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, leading agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Geological Survey, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Park Service. The department was established in 1849 to manage the nation's internal development and the welfare of its people, and it has often been humorously referred to as the Department of Everything Else due to its broad range of responsibilities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current Head of the Department of the Interior | Doug Burgum |
| Date Sworn In | 1st February 2025 |
| Former Head of the Department of the Interior | Deb Haaland |
| Former Deputy Secretary of the Interior | Tommy Beaudreau |
| Current Acting Deputy Secretary | Laura Daniel-Davis |
| First Secretary of the Interior | Thomas Ewing |
| Date of Department's Establishment | 3rd March 1849 |
| Department's Purpose | To protect and manage the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage |
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What You'll Learn
- The current head of the Department of the Interior is Doug Burgum
- The department manages 507 million acres of surface land, about one-fifth of the US
- The department was established in 1849 to protect and manage the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage
- The Secretary of the Interior is a member of the US Cabinet and reports to the President
- The department has a broad range of responsibilities and has often been called the Department of Everything Else
The current head of the Department of the Interior is Doug Burgum
The secretary of the interior is responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, leading agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the US Geological Survey, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Park Service. The secretary also serves on and appoints private citizens to the National Park Foundation Board.
The Department of the Interior manages a significant portion of the nation's land, including national parks, monuments, historical sites, and wildlife refuges. It also plays a role in honouring commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities.
The Department of the Interior has a different function compared to interior ministries in other nations, which typically handle police matters and internal security. In the United States, these responsibilities fall under the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.
Prior to Doug Burgum, the position of Secretary of the Interior was held by Deb Haaland, who was known for her controversial positions on environmental issues, expressing opposition to "fracking and drilling on public land."
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The department manages 507 million acres of surface land, about one-fifth of the US
The United States Department of the Interior is led by the secretary of the interior, Doug Burgum, who was sworn in on February 1, 2025. The department has often been humorously referred to as "the Department of Everything Else" due to its broad range of responsibilities.
The Department of the Interior manages 507 million acres of surface land, about one-fifth of the United States. This includes the management of 476 dams and 348 reservoirs through the Bureau of Reclamation, 433 national parks, monuments, and historical sites through the National Park Service, and 544 national wildlife refuges through the Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a part of the Department of the Interior, is the largest land management agency in the United States. It manages about one-eighth of the land in the country, or approximately 245 million acres. The BLM's mission is to manage public land for multiple uses while conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources. This includes the preservation of specially designated landscapes, such as the 35-million-acre system of National Conservation Lands, protecting wildlife habitats, and conserving natural resources.
The BLM also plays a role in leasing land for commercial operations, such as drilling for oil and gas, and managing grazing permits for ranchers. In addition, the BLM serves as the official record keeper for cadastral survey records and plats, and it continues to conduct new and resurveys to restore lost or obliterated original surveys.
The Department of the Interior, through its various agencies, plays a crucial role in managing and conserving the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage. The management of such a vast area of land comes with complex challenges and responsibilities, ensuring that Americans can access and enjoy their public lands.
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The department was established in 1849 to protect and manage the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage
The United States Department of the Interior was established on March 3, 1849, by President James K. Polk, who approved an act transferring the Office of Indian Affairs, the General Land, the Patent, and the Pension Offices to a new department. The department was created to protect and manage the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage.
The department's responsibilities include the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, leading agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Geological Survey, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Park Service. The department also provides scientific and other information about natural resources and honours its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities.
The head of the Department of the Interior is the United States Secretary of the Interior, who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The current secretary is Doug Burgum, who was sworn in on February 1, 2025. The secretary also serves on and appoints private citizens to the National Park Foundation Board and is a member of the United States Cabinet, reporting to the President.
The Department of the Interior has often been humorously referred to as "the Department of Everything Else" due to its broad range of responsibilities. Its duties have evolved over time, with some domestic concerns transferred to other departments as they were established. For example, the Department of Interior was responsible for water pollution control before the Environmental Protection Agency was created.
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The Secretary of the Interior is a member of the US Cabinet and reports to the President
The Secretary of the Interior is a member of the US Cabinet and reports directly to the President of the United States. The position was established in 1849, with Thomas Ewing as the first Secretary of the Interior. The current Secretary of the Interior is Doug Burgum, who was sworn in on February 1, 2025. The Secretary is responsible for the management and conservation of federal lands and natural resources, overseeing agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the US Geological Survey, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Park Service.
The Department of the Interior has often been humorously referred to as "the Department of Everything Else" due to its broad range of responsibilities. The department's mission is to protect and manage the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage, provide scientific information, and honour its commitments to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities.
The Secretary of the Interior plays a crucial role in managing the nation's internal development and the welfare of its people. They supervise the public business of various agencies and subjects, including the Alaska Railroad, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. The Secretary also serves on and appoints private citizens to the National Park Foundation Board.
The position of Secretary of the Interior is important, as the policies and activities of the Department have a substantial impact on the Western United States. As a result, it has been a tradition for the Secretary to hail from a western state. The Secretary's responsibilities include managing and conserving federal lands, overseeing the extraction of natural resources, and addressing disputes and lawsuits related to American Indian Trusts and water rights issues.
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The department has a broad range of responsibilities and has often been called the Department of Everything Else
The United States Department of the Interior is often humorously referred to as "the Department of Everything Else" due to its broad range of responsibilities. The department was established on March 3, 1849, to protect and manage the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage. The Department of the Interior has a wide variety of responsibilities, including the management and conservation of most federal lands and natural resources. It also handles programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, territorial affairs, and insular areas of the United States, as well as historic preservation.
The department oversees various federal agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service (NPS), the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the United States Geological Survey. The Bureau of Indian Affairs handles federal relations with American Indians, while the Office of Special Trustee handles other relations. The Department of the Interior also manages a significant amount of land, including national parks, monuments, historical sites, and national wildlife refuges.
In addition to its domestic responsibilities, the Department of the Interior also has a role in international affairs. The department is responsible for honoring its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated Island Communities. The department also provides scientific and other information about natural resources to the public.
The Department of the Interior has a different role from that of the interior ministries of other nations, which typically handle police matters and internal security. In the United States, these functions are primarily performed by the Department of Homeland Security and secondarily by the Department of Justice. The Department of the Interior has evolved over time, with some of its original responsibilities being transferred to other departments. For example, the department was once responsible for water pollution control before the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Frequently asked questions
The current head of the Department of the Interior is Doug Burgum, who was sworn in on February 1, 2025.
The Department of the Interior is responsible for the management and conservation of federal land and natural resources, as well as honouring commitments to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Island Communities.
The Department of the Interior oversees agencies including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the United States Geological Survey.
The Department of the Interior was established on March 3, 1849, by President James K. Polk, to manage the nation's internal development and the welfare of its people. It has often been called "the Department of Everything Else" due to its broad range of responsibilities.
The first Secretary of the Interior was Thomas Ewing.
