Ryan Zinke in Trump campaign vs. Trump administration
On Energy & Oil:
Climate is changing; Man is an influence but what can we do?
Asked by Bernie Sanders whether he thought climate change was a hoax, Zinke said, "Climate is changing. Man is an influence. I think where there's debate on it is what that influence is and what can we do about. As the [head of] the Department of the
Interior, I will inherit, if confirmed, the US Geological Survey. We have great scientists there. I'm not a climate science expert, but I can tell you I'm going to become a lot more familiar with it. And it will be based on objective science."
Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings
Jan 18, 2017
On Environment:
Absolutely against transfer or sale of public land to states
Zinke's stance on federal lands was questioned during his 2016 campaign for re-election to the U.S. House. In the past, Zinke has opposed selling federal lands to the states for management.
He has, however, supported efforts to transfer some management of public lands to individual states. During his hearing, Zinke stated, "I am absolutely against transfer or sale of public land."
Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings
Jan 18, 2017
On Environment:
Smokey the Bear should be viewed as helpful, not as police
In response to Jeff Flake's (R-AZ) questions on coordination between federal enforcement and local residents, Zinke said, "I grew up where Smokey the Bear was revered. Who could not like Smokey the Bear? And now, in some parts, it's feared. When they
see Smokey the Bear, they think law enforcement rather than managing our forests. We have to come together to make sure our team out there is viewed as helpful." When Al Franken (D-MN) jokingly asked if Smokey is real, Zinke affirmed, "He's real to me."
Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings
Jan 18, 2017
On Environment:
Shrink national monuments and expand offshore drilling
Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., once stated, "The American people deserve long-term, forward-thinking policies." Unfortunately, Heller's voting record contradicts this statement. Heller voted for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Department of the
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Pruitt is rolling back environmental protections while Zinke is shrinking national monuments and expanding offshore drilling.
Source: Las Vegas Sun, "Broken promise," 2018 Trump Administration
Feb 12, 2018
On Environment:
OpEd: National Parks are under-staffed despite more visits
During his confirmation hearing in March 2017, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke stated that one of his top three priorities as secretary would be "to ensure the professionals on the front line, our rangers and field managers, have the right tools, right
resources and flexibility." But that's not what he's done during his first 16 months in office.Last month, 14 members of Congress criticized Secretary Zinke in a formal letter, stating, "Morale is already low at NPS, due to rampant underfunding
coupled with increased visitation, a highly questionable department-wide reorganization proposal, a continuing climate of harassment, and the failure of the White House to nominate a permanent NPS director."
The Trump administration, with
Zinke's input, in its most recent budget proposal would have cut another 1,800 Park Service staff--more than 9 percent of its already-reduced workforce. While Congress rejected this plan, staffing needs continue to go unaddressed.
Source: NPCA.org "Undermining NPS" on 2018 Trump Administration
Jul 12, 2018
On Environment:
Raise fees & eliminate national park passes for kids
When President Trump's new secretary of the interior Ryan Zinke rode a horse to the steps of his new office, there was cautious optimism. But as the 18th director of the National Park Service (NPS), where I oversaw over 400 national parks, now that
Zinke [has left the] Department of the Interior, many of us who care deeply about public lands have breathed a collective sigh of relief.While we were hopeful [about] Zinke, we were soon disappointed, then appalled, as his doors were soon darkened
by profiteers, big game hunters, oil executives, and climate deniers. Under Zinke, national monuments were carved up and reopened for development, exemplified by the reduction of Bears Ears national monument under the guise of a "review" under which
Native American input was left out and public opposition ignored. Then Zinke rolled out a series of poorly conceived ideas: eliminate national park passes for the active military and fourth graders, and increase national park entrance fees.
Source: NPS Director in The Guardian on 2018 Trump Administration
Dec 16, 2018
On Government Reform:
Work with states and rebuild national parks
Zinke was nominated for secretary of the interior; here is what we learned from Zinke's hearing with the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.Zinke described his three broad goals if he is confirmed: "The first is to restore trust by
working with rather than against local communities and states. I fully recognize that there is distrust, anger, and even hatred against some federal management policies. Being a listening advocate rather than a deaf adversary is a good start.
Second, is to prioritize the estimated $12.5 billion in backlog of maintenance and repair in our National Parks. The President elect is committed to a jobs and infrastructure bill, and I am going to need your help in making sure that bill includes
shoring up our Nation's treasures. And third, to ensure the professionals on the front line, our rangers and field managers, have the right tools, right resources, and flexibility to make the right decisions that give a voice to the people they serve."
Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings
Jan 18, 2017
Page last updated: Nov 02, 2024