Bureaucrats

Department of Interior

What is it?
The Department of Interior, created by Congress in 1849, is the nation's principal conservation agency. It is responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska natives, and native Hawaiians, and to insular areas of the United States.
Their mission is to protect America's treasures for future generations, provide access to our nation's natural and cultural heritage, offer recreation opportunities, honor our trust responsibilities to American Indians and Alaska Natives and our responsibilities to island communities, conduct scientific research, provide wise stewardship of energy and mineral resources, foster sound use of land and water resources, and conserve and protect fish and wildlife.

Why was it established?
In 1848, Walker stated in his annual report that several federal offices were placed in departments with which they had little to do. He noted that General Land Office had little to do with the Treasury and also highlighted the Indian Affairs office, part of the Department of War, and the Patent Office, part of the Department of State. Walker argued that these and other bureaus should be brought together in a new Department of the Interior.

The Department was established on March 3, 1849, the eve of President Zachary Taylor's inauguration, when the Senate voted 31 to 25 to create the Department.

Obama's Nomination:

Salazar is a first-term Colorado Senator who has established a name for himself on public lands and energy resources issues. He headed the Colorado Natural Resources Department from 1990 through 1994. The Interior Department has broad oversight over the nation's energy resources and environment. It oversees oil and gas drilling on public lands and manages the nation's parks and wildlife refuges.

The Colorado senator campaigned vigorously for Obama in the Rocky Mountain state this fall, barnstorming rural areas in an RV preaching alternative energy development and its potential to revitalize economies. After the election, he urged Obama to build his economic stimulus package around investments in energy infrastructure.

Controversy
He outraged many religious conservatives when he called James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, "the anti-Christ"—though he later revised that to "un-Christian." He upset liberals by introducing Bush's attorney general nominee, Alberto Gonzales, at his Senate confirmation hearing. Later, Salazar called on Gonzales to resign over allegations of politically motivated firings of U.S. attorneys.