Politics

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Stepping Down

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Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will be leaving his position in the Trump cabinet by the end of the year, President Donald Trump announced Saturday morning.

The White House has begun identifying potential replacements for Zinke, according to Bloomberg. Nevada GOP Sen. Dean Heller, Nevada GOP attorney general Adam Laxalt, Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker, Idaho GOP Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and Utah GOP attorney general Sean Reyes are all in the running to be next Interior secretary, Bloombergreports.

Trump is planning to announce a new leader for the Department of the Interior (DOI). next week.

Zinke has been plagued by media and investigator scrutiny into his travel spending, political activity and decisions as Interior secretary. He has come under investigationby The Office of Special Counsel and the DOI inspector general at least 15 times. The same two watchdogs investigated the four prior DOI secretaries a total of 11 times.

The DOI did not immediately return a request for comment.

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