Nixed Interior nominee appointed to different department role

An official President Biden originally wanted to nominate to be second in command at the Interior Department has found a new political position in the agency after reported opposition from swing-vote senators. Elizabeth Klein, who had been slated to be nominated as Interior’s deputy secretary, will now instead be senior counselor to the secretary. Politico reported that she faced opposition from Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), while The Washington Post reported that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) also objected to her nomination. Klein’s new role was announced alongside other political officials, including Raina Thiele, who will serve as senior adviser for Alaska affairs and strategic priorities, and Heather Barmore, who will serve as director of digital strategy. The department said in a statement that more than half of its political team members identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color and that 75 percent identify as women...MORE

The DOI press release is here.