First Native American Cabinet Member in U.S. History Confirmed...Deb Haaland Approved as Secretary of the Interior

First Native American Cabinet Member in 245 Years Since US Founding
Biden Strongly Supports 'Green New Deal'...Most Republicans Oppose

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] For the first time in history since the establishment of the U.S. federal government, a Native American has been appointed as a cabinet secretary. Deb Haaland, a member of the House of Representatives and the first Native American to serve as Secretary of the Interior, is expected to oversee the Biden administration's Green New Deal policies and minority affairs. Although her political career is relatively short, there is hope that having the first Native American cabinet secretary directly handling minority policies will lead to a broader understanding of minority communities.

According to foreign media including The New York Times (NYT) on the 15th (local time), the U.S. Senate approved Deb Haaland’s nomination as Secretary of the Interior with 51 votes in favor and 40 against. Four Republican senators, who had previously opposed her nomination, voted in favor, allowing her to be appointed with a majority. This marks the first time in the 245-year history of the U.S. federal government that a Native American has become a cabinet secretary.

Secretary Haaland is a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, one of the Native American tribes residing in New Mexico. She gained attention after being elected in 2018 as the first Native American federal House representative, having previously led civic movements to protect Native American rights and oppose reckless oil drilling and other developments. Although her political career is relatively brief, she is known as one of the leaders of the so-called "Biden climate team," supporting the Biden administration’s clean energy policies and climate change response, known as the Green New Deal.

Her strong opposition to oil drilling has sparked backlash from the U.S. Republican Party, with many Republican lawmakers opposing her confirmation. However, her appointment as the first Native American Secretary of the Interior, overseeing minority policies, is already being hailed as a historic event. The U.S. Department of the Interior is responsible for the protection and management policies of 600 Native American tribes in the U.S., as well as environmental and ecological conservation policies including energy, land, water resources, national parks, and endangered species management. Until now, all appointees have been white politicians.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of the Democratic Party said at a press conference that day, "With Haaland’s confirmation, we have taken another step toward forming a government that represents the diversity and richness of this country." Fawn Sharp, chairwoman of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the largest Native American organization in the U.S., also emphasized, "Haaland’s leadership is needed to lead climate change response efforts, manage our lands and cultural resources, and uphold America’s commitments to Native peoples."