Native Law Group joins Indian Country in celebrating the historic confirmation of Rep. Deb Haaland as the 54th Secretary of the Interior and the first Native American Cabinet secretary. Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Monday evening, March 15, by a 51-40 vote. Four Republican Senators voted in favor of her confirmation: Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
Haaland was sworn in on Tuesday, March 16, in a small ceremony with family members and key staff. She began work at the U.S. Department of the Interior on Wednesday, March 17.
Watch the ceremonial swearing-in with Vice President Kamala Harris here.
Haaland will lead one of the most important federal agencies for Indian tribes. While every agency is responsible for upholding the United States’ government-to-government and trust relationship with Indian tribes, the Department of the Interior touches almost every aspect of Indian affairs.