©2026 League of Conservation Voters
2017 Scorecard Vote
53
43
4
The Senate considered President Trump’s nomination of David Bernhardt to serve as deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI). This deputy secretary position is critical to protecting our treasured natural heritage for future generations, but Bernhardt’s record makes clear he would put our public lands, national monuments and parks, clean air and water, and wildlife at risk. Bernhardt’s long history of lobbying for many of the industries—including oil and gas, mining, and developers—under DOI’s regulatory purview creates numerous conflicts of interest. Additionally, Bernhardt’s career is marked by many instances of fighting against federal environmental safeguards, and he has been in close proximity to ethics scandals during his previous tenure at DOI. Finally, during his confirmation hearing, Bernhardt would not commit to leading the agency to tackle the urgent challenge of climate change and the dangers it poses to our natural resources. On July 24, the Senate confirmed Bernhardt to be deputy secretary of the Interior by a vote of 53-43 (Senate roll call vote 166). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.
©2026 League of Conservation Voters