WASHINGTON — Ryan Zinke opted for a Montanan’s entrance for his first day on the job: The new interior secretary arrived at Interior Department headquarters on Thursday wearing a cowboy hat and riding a horse.
The agency’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement shared a photo of the arrival, along with the message, “Let’s get to work!”
The horse, named Tonto, belongs to the United States Park Police and is kept in stables at the National Mall, according to The New York Times.
Donald Trump nominated Zinke, a fifth-generation Montanan and former Navy SEAL, in December. The Senate confirmed him in a 68-31 vote, and he was sworn in as the 52nd interior secretary on Wednesday evening.
Zinke is tasked with overseeing an agency that has more than 70,000 employees and controls 500 million acres of land, including 59 national parks.
In a statement Wednesday, Zinke said he “honored and humbled” to serve.
“I shall faithfully uphold Teddy Roosevelt’s belief that our treasured public lands are ‘for the benefit and enjoyment of the people’ and will work tirelessly to ensure our public lands are managed and preserved in a way that benefits all Americans for generations to come,” he said.
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