Biden Administration Promotes Laura Daniel-Davis to Acting Deputy Interior Secretary Despite Previous Senate Confirmation Block

Daniel-Davis, whose nomination for a lower position was blocked by Senator Joe Manchin earlier this year over an oil and gas lease proposal, is now set to replace outgoing Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau, despite ongoing criticisms from Republicans over her energy and mineral policies.

Laura Daniel-Davis, a senior official in the Department of the Interior, has been promoted by the Biden administration to the role of acting deputy secretary, succeeding the outgoing deputy, Tommy Beaudreau.
Despite being blocked from a lesser position by Sen. Joe Manchin earlier in the year due to her proposed oil and gas lease proposal that charged higher tariffs to oil companies, Daniel-Davis is set to take on the department's second-in-command role.
The promotion has sparked criticism from Republicans, including Sen. John Barrasso, who argues that Daniel-Davis has continually undermined the nation's energy and mineral security by limiting access to crucial minerals and restricting oil and gas leasing on federal lands.
Davis-Daniel's views on energy matters, including her prioritization of climate agenda over energy security, have been a cause for concern among some members of the Senate, leading to a failed confirmation on two instances.
In taking on this new role, Davis-Daniel pledges to continue to prioritize partnerships with states, tribes, industry, non-profit organizations and academia to guide the department's decision-making process.