Zinke expected to head Interior

Multiple news sources were reporting Dec. 14 that Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, would be named by President-elect Donald Trump to head the Department of the Interior.

Bloomberg reports that Zinke has been a strong proponent of keeping federal lands in federal hands and of resource development on federal lands.

Zinke, 55, is a former Navy SEAL and was awarded two Bronze Stars for missions in Iraq. He just won his second term in the House as Montana’s sole congressman.

His website says the fifth generation Montanan was a SEAL for 23 years and retired from active duty in 2008. He served in the Montana Senate and ran for Congress in 2014, becoming the first SEAL to serve in the House.

The Associated Press reported Trump had offered Zinke the Interior post, but said Dec. 13 it wasn’t clear whether the congressman has accepted.

Zinke was an early supporter of Trump and met with the president-elect Dec. 12 at Trump Tower in Manhattan.

Zinke serves on the House Natural Resources and Armed Services committees, advocates greater use of public lands for energy production and has advocated for state control of energy development on federal lands, a stance which some environmental groups say threatens natural parks, AP reported. He has voted against efforts to designate new national parks.

Zinke graduated from the University of Oregon, AP said, where he played football and earned a degree in geology. He has master’s degrees in business finance and global leadership from the University of San Diego.

- KRISTEN NELSON