Senate confirms former oil lobbyist David Bernhardt as interior secretary

The Senate confirmed David Bernhardt as interior secretary on Thursday by a vote of 56 to 41. The former oil and gas lobbyist had been acting secretary since Jan. 2, and before that he was deputy to his predecessor, Ryan Zinke. The Interior Department manages nearly half a billion acres of public lands. Most Democrats voted against Bernhardt, pointing to his previous work representing many of the oil companies and water utilities he is now in charge of regulating, as well as his policies at Interior, which they say have favored industry and weakened protections against threatened species.

Republicans noted that he had extensive experience at Interior, including as the department's solicitor under former President George W. Bush. Before Thursday's vote, Zinke held a 40-year record for the highest number of "no" votes — 31 — for an interior secretary's confirmation, the liberal Center for American Progress notes.

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