Secretary Bernhardt Announces New Leadership

Date: September 30, 2019
Contact: Interior_press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt signed Secretary's Order 3345 (Order) to temporarily redelegate authority for vacant, non-career, Presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed positions for which there is no Principal Deputy. Of note, Lanny Erdos will be exercising the authority of the Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and David Vela will be exercising the authority of the Director of the National Park Service.

All functions, duties, and responsibilities of the following positions are hereby delegated to the specified employees.

• Deputy Secretary to Kate MacGregor, Deputy Chief of Staff
• Solicitor to Daniel Jorjani, Principal Deputy Solicitor
• Director, Bureau of Land Management, to William Perry Pendley, Deputy Director, Policy and Programs, Bureau of Land Management
• Special Trustee for American Indians to Jerold Gidner, Principal Deputy Special Trustee for American Indians
• Director, National Park Service, to David Vela, Deputy Director for Operations, National Park Service
• Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, to Lanny Erdos, Principal Deputy Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
• Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to Margaret Everson, Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Order is intended to ensure uninterrupted management and execution of the duties of these positions, providing necessary decision making authority to Presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed positions across the Department of the Interior. The delegations made by this Order will only be in effect until each vacant non-career position is filled by Senate-confirmed appointees, upon the subsequent designation of acting officials, or a subsequent delegation to alternate officials.

“Each of these leaders is dedicated to their position, and I’m confident in their abilities to further the progress made by this administration in service to the American people,” said Secretary Bernhardt.

This Order is effective immediately. It will automatically expire for each vacant non-career position when filled by a Senate-confirmed appointee, upon the subsequent designation of acting officials, or a subsequent delegation to alternate officials.

In the absence of the foregoing actions, it will terminate on January 3, 2020, unless extended, modified, or revoked.