Sally Jewell to be sworn in as Secretary of Interior Department

Friday, April 12, 2013  

Sally Jewell is taking over the Interior Department today.

Jewell will be sworn in at a private ceremony this afternoon at the U.S. Supreme Court. Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who served with Jewell on the National Parks Second Century Commission, is administering the oath of office.

That means today is Secretary Ken Salazar's last day on the job. He joined the Obama administration in January 2009 and oversaw a big shift in the federal government's relationship with tribal nations.

Jewell's first full day at Interior will be Monday. She will be in charge of a department that includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs, headed by Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, whose leader has yet to receive a confirmation hearing in the Senate.

"We have a responsibility to honor our commitments in Indian Country and in doing so to help to improve the quality of life for Native people both on and off the reservations," Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota) said in a letter to Jewell yesterday.

Senate confirms Sally Jewell as leader of Interior Department (4/10)
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar bidding farewell after four years (04/05)
BIA takes role on controversial road for Alaska Native village (03/22)
Senate committee approves Sally Jewell as Interior Secretary (03/21)