Rep. Haaland Presses Trump Interior Secretary on Lack of Tribal Consultation

Deb Haaland (NM-01) pressed President Trump’s Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt on lack of tribal consultation by his department.

Published May 16, 2019

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01) pressed President Trump’s Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt on the lack of tribal consultation by his department.

During the hearing, Haaland pointed to her meetings with more than 300 tribes who have all voiced concerns about the failure of the U.S. Department of Interior to consult with tribes on land issues, department reorganization, and resources, among other functions that the Interior oversees.

n an exchange, the Interior Secretary appeared to not recognize his department’s definition of tribal consultation stating, “That is one definition,” when the definition was read aloud to him.