Press Releases

Today, the Trump Administration released, “A Federal Strategy to Ensure a Reliable Supply of Critical Minerals,” to make America’s economy and defense more secure. The strategy directs the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to locate domestic supplies of those minerals, ensure access to information necessary for the study and production of minerals, and expedite permitting for minerals projects.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt praised President Donald J. Trump’s Proclamation declaring June as Great Outdoors Month for the third straight year. Great Outdoors Month reiterates the commitment that the U.S. Department of the Interior under the Trump Administration has made to expand access to the nation's public lands for all citizens. Secretary Bernhardt's statement is below

 Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced next steps in a collaborative effort with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) aimed at acquiring 13,000 acres of private lands within the Lower Blackfoot River watershed, near the iconic Montana waterway. 

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced the designation of the Shelley House into the African American Civil Rights Network. The Shelley House became the subject of the landmark 1948 United States Supreme Court’s unanimous decision, Shelley v. Kraemer, which is one of the defining moments in the civil rights movement and U.S. Constitutional law.

As the summer vacation and travel seasons opens, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced today that visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2018 resulted in a $40.1 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 329,000 jobs.

Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced two actions that will expedite the transfer of eligible Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) facilities into local ownership and management: 

Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced the commitment of more than $106.8 million to support 47 public lands projects throughout Nevada and the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Important Washington Meetings Reaffirm Relationships under the Compacts of Free Association

Interior Improving Transparency and Accountability, Eliminating Waste & Fraud in Financial Assistance Programs

Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced the appointment of Todd Willens to serve as Chief of Staff. Mr. Willens joined the Department in July of 2017 as the Associate Deputy Secretary and assumed the duties of the Acting Chief of Staff in January 2019.