GOP Senator Questions Interior Dept Head During Hearing
On Thursday, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley challenged Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland during a Senate Energy and National Resources Committee hearing. Hawley questioned Haaland about her department’s alleged meetings with “dark money groups” and whether it was common practice for her department to meet and conceal these meetings from the public.
Haaland repeatedly refused to take ownership of her role as leader of the Department of the Interior, instead deferring to President Joe Biden and blaming her former deputy secretary who “is no longer at the department.”
Hawley pressed Haaland, reminding her that she is in fact the secretary of the Department of the Interior and questioning why she was not taking responsibility for what happened within her department. He expressed his surprise that she did not seem to be in charge and asked who was actually in charge. Haaland responded that she “provides the vision” and “overall direction” for the department, but also emphasized that they work as a team.
The senator continued to push Haaland, asking her if she takes full responsibility for what happens at the Department of the Interior. When she replied yes, Hawley questioned why her leadership was meeting with dark money groups and concealing it from the public. Haaland claimed that this was the first she was hearing of it and that she cannot answer for her former deputy secretary’s actions while he was a part of her department.
Secretary Haaland apparently doesn’t know who’s in charge of the Interior Department. Hint: it’s supposed to be her 👇 pic.twitter.com/c1BSXtiViW
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) May 2, 2024
Hawley accused the federal government, and specifically the Department of the Interior, of having a “corruption problem,” and criticized Haaland for refusing to take responsibility for her department’s actions. He further pressed her on the number of times these off-the-books meetings occurred, but Haaland stated that she did not have that information available.
The hearing continued as Hawley and Haaland discussed other issues involving the Department of the Interior, including the Biden administration’s recent decision to suspend new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. Hawley questioned how this decision would impact job creation and energy production in the United States, to which Haaland responded that she believes renewable energy sources will be able to provide jobs and energy.
Despite Haaland’s reassurances, Hawley expressed concern over the impact the administration’s initiatives would have on the economy and urged for a balanced approach to energy production. The senator also raised concerns about the department’s handling of protests and riots at federal monuments and landmarks, asking for clarification on their policy and how it is enforced.
As the hearing came to a close, Haaland thanked Hawley for his questions and reiterated her commitment to upholding her responsibilities as secretary of the Department of the Interior. However, the issue of the department’s alleged meetings with “dark money groups” lingered, with Haaland failing to provide clear answers or take responsibility for her department’s actions.
As the Biden administration continues to face scrutiny and criticism over their policies and decisions, it remains to be seen how leaders such as Haaland will address and take responsibility for issues within their respective departments.