Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis delivered a farewell speech at the Department of the Interior, reflecting on the progress made during her tenure under the Biden-Harris administration. Her remarks emphasized achievements in conservation, clean energy, and collaboration with Tribes.
Daniel-Davis highlighted significant accomplishments over the past four years, including "unprecedented progress for our shared public lands, waters, wildlife and the communities they sustain." She praised her colleagues for being "the real drivers of the change that our public lands, waters and current and future generations have needed."
Under Secretary Deb Haaland and Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis's leadership, efforts were made to protect sacred spaces and support locally led conservation. The administration invested billions in infrastructure projects through President Biden's Investing in America agenda.
The administration protected 670 million acres of public lands and waters. This included establishing national monuments such as Chuckwalla National Monument in California. Six new national wildlife refuges were created, expanding opportunities for wildlife protection.
Daniel-Davis also discussed advancements toward a clean energy economy. Under their guidance, 46 onshore renewable projects were approved by the Bureau of Land Management. Offshore wind projects received approval from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
She acknowledged challenges like drought along the Colorado River but noted collaborative efforts involving Tribes and states helped address these issues. The administration invested $13 billion across western states to mitigate drought impacts.
In closing her speech, Daniel-Davis called upon her colleagues to continue their work: "We are counting on you...to ensure that critical resources like the Colorado River Basin continue to be managed with the West’s long-term future in mind."
Her farewell marked an end to a period characterized by substantial environmental policy changes under her leadership at the Department of Interior.
