Potential for Shannon Estenoz to Become Interior Department Deputy Secretary Raises Questions and Controversy

President Joe Biden has nominated Shannon Estenoz to become the deputy secretary of the Interior Department, a move that could have significant implications for the agency’s energy and natural resources policies. Estenoz, an environmentalist with a background in Everglades restoration, would replace Laura Daniel-Davis, who has been serving in an acting capacity.

The nomination of Estenoz comes at a critical time, as the Senate remains divided over the administration’s energy policies. While some senators, like Energy and Natural Resources ranking member John Barrasso, have expressed concerns about Estenoz’s potential impact on American energy and mineral production, others, like Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, have vowed to block any Interior nominee over disagreements with the administration’s decisions on mining and oil and gas development.

Despite the potential roadblocks in the Senate, Estenoz has already garnered support from environmental groups, who are urging swift confirmation. The National Wildlife Federation and the Conservation Lands Foundation have both endorsed Estenoz, citing her previous unanimous confirmation and her qualifications to help Secretary Haaland fulfill the president’s conservation goals.

Meanwhile, the fate of Daniel-Davis remains uncertain, as Energy and Natural Resources Chair Joe Manchin has yet to comment on Estenoz’s nomination. If Manchin decides to stall the nomination, Daniel-Davis could potentially retain the No. 2 post at the Interior Department for the duration of the current Congress and beyond, thanks to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

As the Senate considers Estenoz’s nomination, the future of the Interior Department’s energy and natural resources policies hangs in the balance. With competing interests and political tensions at play, the confirmation process for Estenoz is sure to be closely watched in the coming weeks.