Deb Haaland
Here are some of the things Deb Haaland did as U.S. Secretary of the Interior (2021-2025) that had particular relevance for New Mexico — plus leadership or policy moves that affected Indian Country, public lands, water, and conservation. If you want, I can pull together even more local (county/city) impacts.
Key Actions & Impacts by Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary
Historic Representation & Indigenous Leadership
She was the first Native American to serve as a U.S. Cabinet Secretary. Wikipedia+2U.S. Department of the Interior+2
Increased inclusion of Native voices in decision-making: more consultations with tribes, appointing Indigenous people to leadership roles. KJZZ+3Center for American Progress+3Congress.gov+3
Water and Rio Grande Basin
Pushed funding (via the Inflation Reduction Act and DOI) for water-saving projects along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico and West Texas. These aim to make the river more resilient under drought/climate stress. AP News
That is important in New Mexico where water scarcity is a recurring issue, especially for agriculture and for rural communities.
Conservation, Public Lands, Wildlife
Created or expanded several national wildlife refuges. AP News+1
Delisted the Apache trout (in Arizona) among species that have recovered enough to no longer need threatened status. While that particular example isn’t directly in New Mexico, it’s part of broader policy moves that affect regional ecosystems. AP News+1
Worked on restoring or protecting landscapes and sacred lands; ordering changes in geographical names (removing derogatory terms) on federally-owned lands. Wikipedia+1
Indian Boarding School Initiative
Launched a Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative aimed at investigating the history and abuses in now-defunct boarding schools where Native American children were forced to attend. Given New Mexico’s history and Native communities, this had resonance and local interest. Wikipedia+1
Geographic / Symbolic Actions
Ordered task forces or reviews to rename places on federal lands that contain derogatory or offensive terms (e.g. the word “squaw”). Wikipedia+1
Approved monuments or protections of land (often in collaboration with tribes). These help ensure conservation, possibly boost tourism, provide protections for culturally significant places. Wikipedia+1
Equity, Justice & Staffing
She pushed for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the DOI. Center for American Progress+1
Under her leadership, the Department of the Interior made appointments and policy changes so that marginalized voices — especially Native American communities — are more represented. Center for American Progress+2Congress.gov+2
What These Mean for New Mexico
Putting this together, in practical terms for New Mexico, her tenure meant:
More federal support and investment in water projects, especially along the Rio Grande, which helps with drought resilience, farming, river ecosystems, and municipal water supply.
Strengthened collaboration with tribal nations in NM, potentially giving them more voice in how federal lands, wildlife, cultural heritage sites are managed.
Better protection and recognition of cultural and sacred sites, possibly boosting tourism or preserving heritage.
Symbolic moves (names, recognition of historical wrongs) that resonate strongly with Native communities in New Mexico.
If you like, I can list some of the criticisms or areas where people think she did less than hoped too, so you get a balanced view. Do you want that?
ChatGPT said:
Here are some of the criticisms people have raised about Deb Haaland’s time as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. These come from a range of perspectives: tribal leaders, environmentalists, politicians, and watchdogs. Some are more serious; others are more about expectations vs what actually happened. I’ll try to lay them out clearly.
Criticisms of Deb Haaland’s Tenure
Tribal Consultation & Relations
Some tribes say she did not adequately consult or meet with them on key decisions. For example, in Alaska, Native leaders claim she ignored or declined several invitations for in-person meetings about policies that affect their lands. E&E News by POLITICO
In other cases, tribes feel the consultation process has been more perfunctory than meaningful, even though the law mandates consultation. KJZZ
Willow Project / Oil & Gas Approvals
Environmentalists have criticized her for allowing or not stopping certain large fossil fuel projects, like the Willow Project in Alaska, which many saw as inconsistent with her personal and stated environmental/climate goals. PBS+2AP News+2
Critics say that although her department increased conservation and pushed renewable energy, some fossil fuel leasing and production continued or even increased under her watch. Some view that as a compromise that undercut stronger climate action. AP News+2AP News+2
Bureaucratic Delays & Permit/Admin Processes
Some people—including other lawmakers—say her department has been slow in permitting renewable energy or infrastructure projects. The regulatory or bureaucratic slowdown is cited as a barrier to achieving some of the stated goals. AP News+1
Also, there was criticism that quarterly oil and gas lease sales were not held as regularly as required by law, which drew complaints from some energy-producing states. AP News
Conflicting Demands / Mixed Signals
Some have accused her of sending mixed signals: pushing hard on climate and conservation, but also approving or allowing projects that seem to go against those policies. That leaves some environmentalists and some tribal leaders feeling that the balance might have tipped too far toward compromise. Inside Climate News+2AP News+2
Criticism from Tribal Leaders About Responsiveness
Some tribes have expressed frustration that after issues are raised, they are not heard, or their concerns are deferred without satisfactory response. One example: chairs or leaders said voicemails and requests for meetings went unanswered. KJZZ+1
Some say that while initiatives were announced (e.g. advisory committees, consultation mandates), the follow-through has sometimes been weak. KJZZ+1
Energy Industry / State Economic Concerns
Republican critics and some states dependent on oil and gas have argued that policies pushed by her DOI (higher royalties, delays in leasing, greater regulatory burdens) discourage domestic energy production and harm state economies. AP News+2Inside Climate News+2
Scope vs Speed
Even among supporters, some say that while the ambition has been high, actual outcomes in certain areas (e.g. some renewable energy deployment, protections) lag behind what was promised or what many hoped for. Delay in getting some protections in place, or judicial and court challenges, slow the work. AP News+2Inside Climate News+2
Perception / Symbolism vs. Tangible Change
Some voices say that much of Haaland’s impact has been symbolic (names changed, commissions formed, promises made) but that true structural shifts — especially in how land is managed, how energy policy is balanced with climate goals, and how tribes have real decision power — are still unfinished. KJZZ+2Inside Climate News+2
Deb Haaland’s Record: New Mexico Pros & Cons
Pros (Supporters Say)
🌊 Water Investment — Directed federal funding toward Rio Grande Basin drought resilience projects, helping NM farmers and municipalities.
🪶 Historic Native Leadership — First Native American Cabinet Secretary; elevated Indigenous voices nationally and brought visibility to NM tribes.
🌳 Conservation & Land Protections — Pushed for monument designations, sacred land protections, and renaming of offensive place names.
📜 Boarding School Initiative — Acknowledged harms of Indian boarding schools, resonating with NM’s Native communities.
🦅 Wildlife & Public Lands — Expanded protections, funding for refuges, and cultural site preservation.
🤝 National Influence — Put NM and Indigenous issues at the center of national policy debates.
Cons (Critics Say)
💧 Too Slow on Water Infrastructure — Local officials say projects are moving slowly compared to the urgency of NM’s water crisis.
🪶 Not Enough Tribal Follow-Through — Some NM tribes (e.g., Sandia Pueblo endorsing Bregman) say her actions felt symbolic, with limited tangible benefits.
⛽ Energy Policy Tensions — Critics argue she balanced too much: approved oil/gas leases while also restricting them, frustrating both environmentalists and NM’s oil/gas industry.
📉 Economic Concerns — NM relies heavily on oil/gas royalties for schools and infrastructure; energy leaders say DOI policies under her raised costs and uncertainty.
⏳ Symbolism vs Action — Locals say renaming landmarks is good, but real issues like job growth, land access, and water scarcity need faster, deeper solutions.
🏜️ Local Disconnect — Some rural NM communities feel DOI under her did not address grazing, land access, and local land-use needs strongly enough.