Rep. Deb Haaland has made history yet again. Haaland was one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress (along with Sharice Davids in 2018), and is now the first Native American cabinet member in United States history. President Joe Biden named Haaland Secretary of the Interior, and she was confirmed by the senate on March 15, 2021. Haaland, a 35th generation New Mexican and member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe, will now assume control of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education.
That means she will oversee the well being of the roughly five million Native Americans living in the United States. As Secretary of Interior, Haaland, an environmentalist, will help President Biden tackle climate change initiatives by halting drilling on protected lands and waters, reinstating protected status to lands and endangered species, and implementing wind and solar power where needed. To see photos of Secretary Deb Haaland, scroll through this gallery.
