Zinke Calls 1/3 Of Interior Staff Disloyal To Trump, Promises Big Changes

"In a speech to a federal advisory board dominated by oil and gas industry executives, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke claimed that nearly a third of his staff is disloyal to President Trump, saying that workers in Washington are reluctant to relax regulations to permit increased mining for coal and drilling for natural gas and oil on public land.

Zinke promised a 'huge' change by restructuring staff positions and possibly shifting decision-making positions in the Bureau of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation from Washington to points out West in the speech Monday to the National Petroleum Council. His remarks were first reported by the Associated Press.

'I got 30 percent of the crew that’s not loyal to the flag,' the secretary said, according to participants. Zinke, a former Navy SEAL, invoked military and seafaring jargon to describe his approach to running the department."

Darryl Fears and Juliet Eilperin report for the Washington Post September 26, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"Zinke Advances Overhaul As He Questions Loyalty Of Workers" (Greenwire)

"Cantwell: Zinke's Comments About Interior Employees' Loyalty A 'Cheap Shot'" (CNN)

"Zinke: One-third of Interior employees not loyal to Trump" (AP)

"Interior Chief's Loyalty Comments Draw Widespread Criticism" (AP)