Montana Sen. Steve Daines and Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, both Republicans, placed holds Tuesday on Rep. Deb Haaland’s nomination as Secretary of the Interior.
A hold forces a full debate on the Senate floor, delaying the final confirmation vote for the New Mexican Congresswoman until the debate concludes.
Daines has opposed Haaland’s nomination, saying in a statement Tuesday Haaland’s views will “hurt the Montana way of life and kill Montana jobs."
Sen. Lummis made a similar statement on behalf of Wyoming, saying Haaland would support “radical policies.”
Meanwhile, many leaders of tribal nations in Montana have expressed support for Haaland’s confirmation.
Montana’s Democratic Sen. Jon Tester has said he will vote to confirm Haaland because of her commitment to protect Montana’s public lands, upgrade water infrastructure and ensure the federal government honors its treaty obligations to tribes.
If confirmed, Haaland will be the first Native American to be appointed to a presidential cabinet position. The Department of the Interior oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Parks Service, among many others.
A spokesperson for Sen. Daines says the full Senate will likely consider Haaland’s nomination on Monday following up to 30 hours of debate through the weekend.
