Ryan Zinke has taken 66 personal days off as interior secretary
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is starting to look like the next Scott Pruitt.
Zinke's loose concept of vacation time and meetings with GOP-friendly billionaires even has President Trump complaining, The Washington Post reports. And now, with Democrats about to take over the House, White House officials are reportedly worried Zinke's missteps may walk him right into a congressional investigation.
Since Zinke entered the Trump administration a year and a half ago, public records show he's taken 66 personal days off, not including weekends and holidays. Senior officials are usually allotted 39 in the same time, the Post notes. He's also been very open to impromptu meetings with donors to his PAC, conservative activists, and other billionaires, emails obtained by the Post show.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Zinke has already been the subject of several ethics investigations thanks to his reportedly questionable leadership. But House Democrats pose a higher-profile threat, especially since their congressional probes wouldn't be conducted by Trump's Department of Justice. This possibility — along with Zinke reportedly looking into some new jobs, per Politico — all suggest Zinke could be on the outs.
Trump told reporters Thursday he'd decide Zinke's fate "in about a week," but said Friday he wasn't planning to fire Zinke. Still, Zinke may want to start looking for that horse he rode in on.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
The mental health crisis affecting vets
Under The Radar Death of Hampshire vet highlights mental health issues plaguing the industry
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published