Deb Haaland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deb Haaland
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Official portrait, 2021
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| 54th United States Secretary of the Interior | |
| In office March 16, 2021 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | Tommy Beaudreau Laura Daniel-Davis (acting) |
| Preceded by | David Bernhardt |
| Succeeded by | Doug Burgum |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Mexico's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 2019 – March 16, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Michelle Lujan Grisham |
| Succeeded by | Melanie Stansbury |
| Chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party | |
| In office April 25, 2015 – April 29, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Sam Bregman |
| Succeeded by | Richard Ellenberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Debra Anne Haaland
December 2, 1960 Winslow, Arizona, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Laguna Pueblo |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Skip Sayre
(m. 2021; div. 2025) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | University of New Mexico (BA, JD) |
| Signature |  |
Debra Anne Haaland (born December 2, 1960) is an American politician. She served as the 54th U.S. Secretary of the Interior from 2021 to 2025. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before this, she was a U.S. representative for New Mexico's 1st congressional district from 2019 to 2021. She also led the New Mexico Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017.
Deb Haaland is a Native American and an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe. Her congressional district included most of Albuquerque and its nearby areas. She is one of the first two Native American women ever elected to the U.S. Congress. She supports ideas like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.
On December 17, 2020, then-President-elect Joe Biden chose Haaland to be Secretary of the Interior. The U.S. Senate approved her on March 15, 2021. She became the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary. She was the second Native American to serve in the Cabinet overall.
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Early Life and Education
Deb Haaland was born in Winslow, Arizona. She is a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe. The Pueblo people have lived in what is now New Mexico for many centuries. Haaland sees herself as a 35th-generation New Mexican.
Her mother, Mary Toya, was a Native American woman who served in the United States Navy. She also worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Her father, Major John David "Dutch" Haaland, was an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He was honored for his actions in the Vietnam War.
As a child in a military family, Haaland moved often. She went to 13 different public schools across the United States. Her family finally settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This allowed them to be close to their Laguna Pueblo relatives. Haaland finished Highland High School in Albuquerque in 1978.
After high school, Haaland worked at a local bakery. She later attended the University of New Mexico. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1994. Four days after graduating, she had her child, Somáh. As a single mother, Haaland started a salsa company to support her family. She worked hard to make sure she and her child had what they needed.
Haaland continued her education and earned her Juris Doctor degree in Indian law. She received this degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2006.
Early Career and Public Service
After law school, Haaland worked as a counselor for adults with developmental disabilities. She then served as a tribal administrator and casino manager in San Felipe Pueblo. She was the first woman to be on the board of the Laguna Development Corporation. This business helps strengthen the Laguna Community and its economy. As chairwoman, she helped oversee business operations. She also pushed for the company to use earth-friendly business practices.
Haaland helped with Native American voter outreach for Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign. She also chaired the Native American Caucus of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. From 2015 to 2017, she was elected to lead the Democratic Party of New Mexico. During her time as chair, Democrats in New Mexico gained more control in the state government. She is recognized for helping to rebuild the state party.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Representative
After her term as state party chair, Haaland decided to run for the United States House of Representatives. She ran for New Mexico's 1st congressional district in the 2018 elections. She won the Democratic Party nomination in June 2018.
Haaland campaigned as a progressive. She supported ideas like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. In the November 2018 election, she won with 59.1% of the vote. Her victory was part of a big win for Democrats in New Mexico that year.
In the 2020 election, Haaland was re-elected. She won with 58.2% of the vote.
Key Moments and Work in Congress
When she was sworn into Congress in January 2019, Haaland wore traditional Pueblo dress. This included a necklace and moccasins. Along with Representative Sharice Davids, she was one of the first two Native American women in Congress.
On March 7, 2019, Haaland made history again. She became the first Native American woman to lead a debate in the U.S. House of Representatives. During her time in Congress, Haaland worked on many bills. She was known for having a very progressive voting record.
Haaland was also one of the co-chairs for Elizabeth Warren's 2020 presidential campaign.
Committees and Groups
While in the House, Haaland served on important committees:
- Committee on Armed Services
- Committee on Natural Resources (where she was Vice Chair)
- She chaired the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
- Committee on Oversight and Reform
She was also a co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.
Secretary of the Interior (2021–2025)
Becoming Secretary
On December 17, 2020, President Joe Biden announced he would nominate Haaland to be Secretary of the Interior. Many leaders supported her for this role.
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On March 15, 2021, the Senate approved her nomination. She became the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. She was sworn in on March 18, 2021. She wore traditional Laguna Pueblo clothing and a colorful ribbon skirt for the ceremony. She often brought Indigenous traditions to her role. She wore Native jewelry and decorated her office with Native art.
Work as Secretary
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On her first day, Haaland met with tribal media. She spoke about including tribes in decisions that affect them. In April 2021, she announced a new unit within the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This unit works to solve the crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans. She said they would use every resource to help tribal communities.
In May 2021, Haaland approved a new constitution for the Cherokee Nation. In June 2021, she started the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative. This initiative investigates past abuse in residential boarding schools. These schools housed Native American children under an old law. Haaland's own grandparents were sent to these boarding schools. She held "Road to Healing" events to hear stories from survivors.
In November 2021, Haaland ordered a task force to rename 650 places on federal lands. These places used a derogatory term for Native American women. In March 2023, she announced $25 million for bison conservation.
Haaland was also involved in President Biden's creation of new national monuments. These included Avi Kwa Ame, Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon, and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monuments. These monuments will include Native participation in managing the land. Haaland used her position to address historical wrongs by including tribes.
While serving as secretary, Haaland also worked on a master's degree in American Indian studies. She spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention on August 22, 2024.
2026 New Mexico Gubernatorial Campaign
On January 28, 2025, Haaland announced she would run for governor of New Mexico in the 2026 election. She hopes to become the next governor after Michelle Lujan Grisham. She started her campaign in Los Alamos to a large crowd.
Personal Life
Haaland has one child, Somáh. She raised Somáh as a single mother. On August 28, 2021, Haaland married her longtime partner, Skip Sayre. They married in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. Haaland is Catholic. She enjoys marathon running and gourmet cooking.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2021
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Deb Haaland's signature
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Haaland speaks at a rally at the U.S. Capitol in 2018.
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Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM) is sworn into the House of Representatives by Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2019. Her mother Mary Toya and her child Somáh are with her.
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A photograph of Haaland in 2019.
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Haaland is sworn in as Secretary of the Interior by Vice President Kamala Harris.
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Deb Haaland in February 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Deb Haaland para niños
