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 | Walter Cruickshank (acting) |
| 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) |
| 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 Secretary of the Interior from 2021 to 2025. The Secretary of the Interior manages America's public lands, national parks, and natural resources. This role also works closely with Native American tribes.
Before this, she was a US 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. Along with Sharice Davids, she was one of the first two Native American women elected to the US 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 US Senate approved her on March 15, 2021. After she was sworn in on March 16, she became the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary. She was the second Native American to serve in the Cabinet, after former Vice President Charles Curtis.
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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 since the 1200s. 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 a Norwegian Minnesotan. He was an officer in the United States Marine Corps and received a Silver Star for his bravery 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, to be near family from the Laguna Pueblo. Haaland graduated from Highland High School in Albuquerque.
After high school, Haaland worked at a bakery. In 1988, she started at 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 has shared that sometimes she didn't earn enough for housing. She relied on friends for shelter and sometimes used food stamps.
She earned her Juris Doctor degree in Indian law from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2006. She is also working on a Master's degree in American Indian studies at University of California, Los Angeles.
Haaland became the first woman to lead the Laguna Development Corporation Board of Directors. This business is owned by the Laguna tribe and helps their community and economy. She helped create earth-friendly business practices for the company. She also worked as a tribal administrator for the San Felipe Pueblo from 2013 to 2015.
Early Career in Politics
After law school, Haaland worked as a counselor for adults with disabilities. Then she became a tribal administrator and casino manager. She was also the first woman to serve on the board of the Laguna Development Corporation.
Haaland helped Native Americans vote in Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign in New Mexico. She was also the chair of the Native American Caucus for the Democratic Party of New Mexico from 2012 to 2013.
In 2014, she ran for Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico. Her team lost that election.
In April 2015, Haaland 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 known for helping to rebuild the state party. She also raised enough money to pay off seven years of party debt.
Serving in the US House of Representatives
After her term as state party chair, Haaland decided to run for the United States House of Representatives. She wanted to represent New Mexico's 1st district.
Becoming a Representative
In June 2018, she won the Democratic Party nomination. She received 40.5% of the votes. In the general election on November 6, she won against Janice Arnold-Jones. Haaland received 59.1% of the votes. Her win was part of a big victory for Democrats in New Mexico that year.
In 2020, she was re-elected to the House of Representatives. She won with 58.2% of the votes.
Important Moments in Congress
When she was sworn into Congress in January 2019, Haaland wore traditional Pueblo clothing. This included a necklace and moccasins.
On March 7, 2019, Haaland made history. She became the first Native American woman to lead a debate in the US House of Representatives. This happened during a discussion about voting rights.
During her time in the 116th United States Congress, Haaland was very active. She helped create many new bills. She also had one of the most progressive voting records.
Haaland was one of the three co-chairs for Elizabeth Warren's 2020 presidential campaign.
What Committees She Was On
While in the House, Haaland served on several important committees:
- Committee on Armed Services (which deals with military matters)
- Committee on Natural Resources (where she was Vice Chair). This committee handles issues about public lands and Native American peoples. She also 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
Becoming Secretary
On December 17, 2020, President Joe Biden announced he would nominate Haaland as Secretary of the Interior. Many important Democrats supported her for this role. These included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Elizabeth Warren. Some Republican representatives also supported her.
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On March 15, 2021, the Senate confirmed her appointment with a vote of 51–40. Four Republicans voted to confirm her. She made history as the first Native American Cabinet secretary in US history. Haaland was sworn in on March 18, 2021. She wore traditional Laguna Pueblo clothing and a special ribbon skirt. She often wears Native jewelry and decorates her office with Native art.
Her Work as Secretary
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On her first day, Haaland met with tribal media. She talked about including tribes in decisions that affect them. In April 2021, she announced a new unit to help with the crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans. She said they would use every resource to help these investigations.
In May 2021, Haaland approved a new constitution for the Cherokee Nation. This constitution included protections for Cherokee Freedmen.
In June 2021, Haaland started the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative. This project investigates abuse in old residential boarding schools. Native American children were sent to these schools a long time ago. Haaland's own grandparents were sent to these boarding schools. She has attended events to hear stories from survivors.
In November 2021, Haaland banned the word "squaw" from all federally owned lands. This word is offensive to Native American women. She ordered a team to find new names for 650 places that used the word.
In March 2023, Haaland announced $25 million to help conserve bison.
Haaland has also helped President Biden create new national monuments. These include Avi Kwa Ame and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon. These monuments will include Native participation in managing the land. Haaland has used her role to correct historical wrongs by involving tribes.
While serving as secretary, Haaland is finishing her master's degree in American Indian studies. She spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Personal Life
Haaland has one child, Somáh, whom she raised as a single mother. On August 28, 2021, Haaland married her longtime partner, Skip Sayre, in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.
Haaland is Catholic. She enjoys marathon running and gourmet cooking. In July 2022, she broke her left leg while hiking in Shenandoah National Park.
Images for kids
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Deb Haaland's signature
See also
- List of Native American politicians
- List of Native Americans in the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
- List of secretaries of the interior
