News

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland traveled to Virginia today to commemorate Black History Month and reinforce the Interior Department's commitment to honoring the legacy and achievements of the Black community. During the trip, she also highlighted how investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda are strengthening Tribal communities.

The Department of the Interior today announced a $10 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to upgrade and modernize Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)-owned irrigation projects and power utilities serving Tribal communities.

The Department of the Interior today announced a final rule to update the federal regulations regarding Class III Indian gaming compacts. The Indian gaming industry remains one of the most significant drivers of Tribal economic development in Indian Country.

In commemoration of Black History Month, the Department of the Interior today announced five additions to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network, which was created in 2019 to recognize and amplify sites and programs throughout the country that share stories of freedom, struggle, education and self-determination associated with the period of Reconstruction from 1861 to 1900. 

As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America tour, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Dr. Steve Feldgus and Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Principal Deputy Director Sharon Buccino traveled to Illinois today, where they announced $75.8 million in fiscal year 2023 funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to address dangerous and polluting abandoned mine lands and catalyze economic opportunity in Illinois. 

The Departments of the Interior and Agriculture today announced a proposal to strengthen Alaska Tribal representation on the Federal Subsistence Board (FSB), which manages subsistence use on federal lands and waters in Alaska.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today formally established Amache National Historic Site in Colorado, following the Town of Granada’s acquisition and donation of the land needed to establish the nation’s newest national park.

The Department of the Interior today announced a historic agreement with the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe and Klamath Water Users Association to advance collaborative efforts to restore the Klamath Basin ecosystem and improve water supply reliability for Klamath Project agriculture.

Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz concluded a visit to Tennessee today, where she joined local leaders to celebrate Black History Month and highlight the Department of the Interior’s ongoing work to invest in equitable access to the outdoors for all.

As part of the 2024 White House Convening on Equity, hosted by the Domestic Policy Council, the Department of the Interior today released its comprehensive Equity Action Plan, detailing strategic initiatives aimed at advancing equity across its operations and engagements.