United States Secretary of the Interior

The United States secretary of the interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior. The secretary and the Department of the Interior are responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land along with natural resources, leading such agencies as the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Geological Survey, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Park Service. The secretary also serves on and appoints the private citizens on the National Park Foundation Board. The secretary is a member of the United States Cabinet and reports to the president of the United States. The function of the U.S. Department of the Interior is different from that of the interior minister designated in many other countries.

As the policies and activities of the Department of the Interior and many of its agencies have a substantial impact in the Western United States, the secretary of the interior has typically come from a western state; only one secretary since 1949, Rogers Morton, was not a resident or native of a state lying west of the Mississippi River.

Secretary of the Interior is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule, thus earning a salary of US$246,400, as of January 2024.

The current interior secretary is Doug Burgum, who was sworn in on February 1, 2025.

Line of succession

The line of succession for the secretary of the interior is as follows:

1. Deputy Secretary of the Interior
2. Solicitor of the Interior
3. Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget
4. Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management
5. Assistant Secretary for Water and Science
6. Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks
7. Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
8. Director, Security, Safety, and Law Enforcement, Bureau of Reclamation
9. Central Region Director, US Geological Survey
10. Intermountain Regional Director, National Park Service
11. Region 6 (Mountain-Prairie Region) Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service
12. Colorado State Director, Bureau of Land Management
13. Regional Solicitor, Rocky Mountain Region

List of secretaries of the interior

Parties

Template:Legend2 (3) Template:Legend2 (17) Template:Legend2 (34)

Status

  Denotes acting Secretary of the Interior

Number	Portrait	Name	State of residence	Took office	Left office	President(s)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |1	File:ThomasEwingSr.jpg	Thomas Ewing	Ohio	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1849–1850)
rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" |						Template:Sortname (1850–1853)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |2	File:Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan.png	Template:Sortname	Pennsylvania	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |3	File:AxHHStuart (cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Virginia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |4	File:Robert McClelland 1.jpg	Template:Sortname	Michigan	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1853–1857)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |5	File:Jacob Thompson (ca. 1857).jpg	Template:Sortname	Mississippi	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1857–1861)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |6	File:CBSmith.jpg	Template:Sortname	Indiana	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1861–1865)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |7	File:John Palmer Usher.jpg	Template:Sortname	Indiana	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |
Template:Sortname (1865–1869)
	style="background: Template:Party color;" |8	File:James-Harlan.jpg	Template:Sortname	Iowa	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |
	style="background: Template:Party color;" |9	File:Orville Hickman Browning - Brady-Handy.jpg	Template:Sortname	Illinois	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |
style="background: Template:Party color;" |10	File:Jacob Dolson Cox - Brady-Handy.jpg	Template:Sortname	Ohio	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1869–1877)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |11	File:CDelano.jpg	Template:Sortname	Ohio	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |12	File:Zachariah Chandler.jpg	Template:Sortname	Michigan	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |13	File:Carl-Schurz.jpg	Template:Sortname	Missouri	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1887–1881)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |14	File:Samuel Jordan Kirkwood.png	Template:Sortname	Iowa	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1881)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |						Template:Sortname (1881–1885)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |15	File:Henry Moore Teller.png	Template:Sortname	Colorado	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |16	File:Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar.png	Template:Sortname	Mississippi	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1885–1889)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |17	File:Vilas2.jpg	Template:Sortname	Wisconsin	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |18	File:John Willock Noble.png	Template:Sortname	Missouri	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1889–1893)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |19	File:M. Hoke Smith, 1912.jpg	Template:Sortname	Georgia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1893–1897)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |20	File:David Rowland Francis.png	Template:Sortname	Missouri	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |21	File:Cornelius Newton Bliss.jpg	Template:Sortname	New York	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1897–1901)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |22	File:EAHitchcock-SecInterior.jpg	Template:Sortname	Missouri	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |						Template:Sortname (1901–1909)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |23	File:James Rudolph Garfield.png	Template:Sortname	Ohio	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |24	File:Richard Achilles Ballinger.png	Template:Sortname	Washington	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1909–1913)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |25	File:Walter L. Fisher cph.3a00307.jpg	Template:Sortname	Illinois	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |26	File:Secy Franklin Lane LCCN2014691522 Crop Alt.jpg	Template:Sortname	California	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1913–1921)
–	File:Alexander (T.) Vogelsang, secrétaire de l'Intérieur (gouvernement des Etats-Unis) - btv1b53036912x Trim.jpg	Template:Sortname Acting	California	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |27	File:John Barton Payne (1855–1935) - Official portrait.jpg	Template:Sortname	Illinois	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |28	File:Albert Fall.jpg	Template:Sortname	New Mexico	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1921–1923)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |29	File:Hubert Work cph.3b20185.jpg	Template:Sortname	Colorado	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |						Template:Sortname (1923–1929)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |30	File:Roy Owen West.png	Template:Sortname	Illinois	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |31	File:RayLymanWilbur.gif	Template:Sortname	California	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1929–1933)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |32	File:Ickes.gif	Template:Sortname	Illinois	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1933–1945)
rowspan=4 style="background: Template:Party color;" |						Template:Sortname (1945–1953)
–	File:Oscar Littleton Chapman.png	Template:Sortname Acting	Colorado	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |33	File:Julius A Krug.png	Template:Sortname	Wisconsin	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |34	File:Oscar Littleton Chapman.png	Template:Sortname	Colorado	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |35	File:Douglas McKay.png	Template:Sortname	Oregon	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1953–1961)
–		Template:Sortname Acting	Nebraska	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |36	File:Seaton.gif	Template:Sortname	Nebraska	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |37	File:Stewart L Udall - 1960s.gif	Template:Sortname	Arizona	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1961–1963)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |						Template:Sortname (1963–1969)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |38	File:Hickel.gif	Template:Sortname	Alaska	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1969–1974)
–		Template:Sortname Acting	California	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |39	File:RogersClarkBallardMorton.jpg	Template:Sortname	Maryland	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
rowspan=5 style="background: Template:Party color;" |						Template:Sortname (1974–1977)
–	File:Kent Frizzell - Department of Justice.jpg	Template:Sortname Acting	Kansas	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |40	File:Stanley K Hathaway.png	Template:Sortname	Wyoming	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
–	File:Kent Frizzell - Department of Justice.jpg	Template:Sortname Acting	Kansas	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |41	File:Thomas S Kleppe.gif	Template:Sortname	North Dakota	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
–		Template:Sortname Acting		Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1977–1981)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |42	File:Cecil D Andrus.png	Template:Sortname	Idaho	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |43	File:James g watt.png	Template:Sortname	Colorado	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=4 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1981–1989)
–	File:J.J. Simmons, III - Surface Transportation Board Vice Chairman.jpg	Template:Sortname Acting	New Jersey	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |44	File:William patrick clark.png	Template:Sortname	California	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |45	File:Donald hodel.JPG	Template:Sortname	Oregon	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
–		Template:Sortname Acting	Virginia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1989–1993)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |46	File:Lujan manuel.jpg	Template:Sortname	New Mexico	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |47	File:Bruce babbitt.jpg	Template:Sortname	Arizona	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (1993–2001)
–	File:Thomas Slonaker, Special Trustee for American Indians, Department of Interior - NARA - 5609637.jpg	Template:Sortname Acting	Arizona	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
						rowspan=5 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (2001–2009)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |48	File:Gale Norton.jpeg	Template:Sortname	Colorado	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
–	File:Lynn Scarlett.jpg	Template:Sortname Acting	California	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |49	File:Dirk Kempthorne, official Interior Dept color photo, 2006.jpg	Template:Sortname	Idaho	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
–	File:Lynn Scarlett.jpg	Template:Sortname Acting	California	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
						rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (2009–2017)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |50	File:Ken Salazar official DOI portrait.jpg	Template:Sortname	Colorado	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |51	File:Sally Jewell official portrait.jpg	Template:Sortname	Washington	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
–		Template:Sortname Acting		Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=4 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (2017–2021)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |52	File:Ryan Zinke official portrait (cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	Montana	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |53	File:David Bernhardt official photo.jpg	Template:Sortname	Colorado	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Dts				Template:Dts
–	File:Scott de la Vega.jpg	Template:Sortname Acting	New York	Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (2021–2025)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |54	File:Secretary Deb Haaland, official headshot.jpg	Template:Sortname	New Mexico	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
–	File:Walter Cruickshank official photo.jpg	Template:Sortname Acting		Template:Dts	Template:Dts	rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |	Template:Sortname (2025–present)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |55	File:Doug Burgum 2023 (cropped).jpg	Template:Sortname	North Dakota	Template:Dts	present

External links

• Template:Official website

Template:S-precTemplate:S-precTemplate:S-endTemplate:Navboxes