Ryan Zinke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ryan Zinke
|
|
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2023
|
|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Montana |
|
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 |
|
| Preceded by | Constituency reestablished |
| Constituency | 1st district |
| In office January 3, 2015 – March 1, 2017 |
|
| Preceded by | Steve Daines |
| Succeeded by | Greg Gianforte |
| Constituency | At-large district |
| 52nd United States Secretary of the Interior | |
| In office March 1, 2017 – January 2, 2019 |
|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | David Bernhardt |
| Preceded by | Sally Jewell |
| Succeeded by | David Bernhardt |
| Member of the Montana Senate from the 2nd district |
|
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Dan Weinberg |
| Succeeded by | Dee L. Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ryan Keith Zinke
November 1, 1961 Bozeman, Montana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Lolita Hand
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Oregon (BS) National University (MBA) University of San Diego (MS) |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1986–2008 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Unit | SEAL Team Six SEAL Team One NSWU-2 Naval Special Warfare Center |
| Awards | Bronze Star (2) Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2) Meritorious Service Medal (4) Joint Service Commendation Medal (2) Army Commendation Medal |
Ryan Keith Zinke (born November 1, 1961) is an American politician and businessman. He is currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Montana's 1st district, a role he has held since 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Before his current role, Zinke served in the Montana Senate from 2009 to 2013. He was also a U.S. Representative for Montana's at-large district from 2015 to 2017. One of his most important roles was serving as the United States secretary of the interior under President Donald Trump from 2017 until 2019. He resigned from this position after facing questions about his actions and spending. He stated he could not justify spending money to defend himself and his family against "false allegations."
Before his political career, Zinke was a U.S. Navy SEAL from 1986 until 2008, reaching the rank of commander. He was the first Navy SEAL to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ryan Zinke was born in Bozeman, Montana, and grew up in Whitefish. His father, Ray Dale Zinke, was a plumber. Ryan was an Eagle Scout.
He was a talented athlete at Whitefish High School and received a football scholarship to the University of Oregon. He played as a center for the Oregon Ducks football team. In 1984, he earned a bachelor's degree in geology. He also earned a master's degree in business administration from National University in 1993 and another master's degree in global leadership from the University of San Diego in 2003.
Military Career
Ryan Zinke served as a U.S. Navy SEAL from 1986 until 2008, when he retired as a commander. He completed the tough Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in 1986. He then served with SEAL Team ONE.
Later, he joined the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), where he planned and took part in secret operations. He also served as a team leader and task force commander. In the late 1990s, Zinke repaid the Navy $211 for incorrectly charging the government for personal travel. His promotion to commander was approved the following year.
From 2004, Zinke was the deputy and acting commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula. In this role, he led over 3,500 Special Operations personnel in Iraq. In 2006, he helped create the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command, where he served as dean until he retired in 2008.
Awards and Decorations
During his military career, Ryan Zinke received many awards. These include the Bronze Star Medal (twice), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (twice), and the Meritorious Service Medal (four times). He also earned the Joint Service Commendation Medal (twice) and the Army Commendation Medal. He also wears the Special Warfare insignia, also known as the "SEAL Trident," and the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia.
Business Ventures
After his military career, Zinke started a property management and business consulting company called Continental Divide International in 2005. His family members are also involved in the company. In 2009, he started another consulting company called On Point Montana. He also served on the board of an oil pipeline company, QS Energy, from 2012 to 2015.
Political Career
Montana State Senator (2009–2013)
Ryan Zinke was elected to the Montana Senate in 2008, representing the city of Whitefish. He served there from 2009 to 2013. During this time, he was seen as a moderate Republican, but his views later became more conservative.
He led the Senate Education Committee, where he supported using technology in classrooms and giving local communities more control over their schools. He also served on the Senate Finance and Claims Committee.
Views on Climate Change
In 2008, Zinke supported increasing coal production, as long as it was done with environmental safety. He also believed that using alternative energy sources was better than fuels made from petroleum. In 2010, he signed a letter that called global warming a "threat" and asked leaders to support clean energy. However, after 2010, he often expressed doubts about human-caused climate change. During a debate in 2014, he said it was "not a hoax, but it's not proven science either."
U.S. House of Representatives (2015–2017)
.jpg)
In 2014, Zinke ran for Montana's at-large congressional district seat. He won the Republican primary and then the general election.
As a member of Congress, Zinke supported sending U.S. ground troops to fight ISIS. He also wanted to get rid of the Affordable Care Act and reduce government regulations. He supported efforts to repeal the estate tax.
Political Stances
Education
In 2015, Zinke voted for a plan to expand digital learning in schools. This plan aimed to create a program to test and improve technology-based learning.
Environmental Rules
Zinke often voted against environmental groups on issues like coal mining and oil and gas drilling. When President Trump allowed drilling in many U.S. coastal waters, Zinke worked to make Florida's coast an exception.
Federal Lands
Unlike most Republicans, Zinke did not support transferring federal lands to individual states. He called such ideas "extreme" and voted against them. He believed in better management of federal land rather than giving it to states.
Committee Roles in 2017
- Committee on Armed Services
- Committee on Natural Resources
U.S. House of Representatives (2023–Present)
In 2021, Zinke announced he would run again for the U.S. House of Representatives, this time for Montana's 1st congressional district. He won the election in 2022.
Current Role
Zinke represents the western part of Montana, which includes cities like Missoula, Butte, Bozeman, Kalispell, and his hometown of Whitefish.
Syria Policy
In 2023, Zinke voted against a resolution that would have required President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
Zinke was one of the 71 Republicans who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.
Safeguarding Americans from Extremism Act
During the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, Zinke introduced a bill that would stop people with passports from the Palestinian Authority from entering or seeking safety in the U.S. He said this bill aimed to "Expel Palestinians from the United States."
Secretary of the Interior (2017–2019)
President-elect Donald Trump chose Ryan Zinke to be the United States Secretary of the Interior in December 2016. The Senate approved his nomination in March 2017, and he was sworn into office by Vice President Mike Pence.
On his first full day, Zinke rode a United States Park Police horse named Tonto to his welcoming ceremony at the Interior Department building.
Changes to Environmental Policies
One of Zinke's first actions was to reverse a ban on lead bullets and fishing tackle in national wildlife refuges. This ban had been put in place to protect animals from lead. Environmental groups opposed this change, but gun rights groups and sportsmen's groups supported it.
National Monument Reductions
In 2017, Zinke began reviewing many national monuments to see if their sizes should be reduced. He suggested shrinking Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument. In December 2017, President Trump signed orders that significantly reduced the size of these two monuments. These changes were supported by some Republicans but criticized by Democrats and environmental groups. Documents later showed that the administration aimed to increase access for coal, oil, and gas mining in these areas.
Flying the Secretarial Flag
When Zinke became Secretary, he ordered that the official flag of the Secretary of the Interior be flown over the Main Interior Building whenever he was inside. If he was away, his deputy's flag would be flown. This was an unusual practice for a federal government official.
Trophy Hunting
In November 2017, President Trump, following Zinke's advice, considered lifting a ban on importing elephant and other big-game trophies from Zambia and Zimbabwe into the United States. Zinke, who enjoys hunting, said he wanted to promote hunting for American families. However, critics worried this would harm elephant populations. Trump later put the decision on hold.
Greater Sage-Grouse
Zinke also took steps to change a 2015 plan that protected the greater sage-grouse, a bird species. The Interior Department wanted to change how sage-grouse habitats were managed in 10 states. This could have opened these areas to mining and grazing, which was welcomed by the oil and gas industry but criticized by environmentalists.
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Under Zinke, the Interior Department changed how it interpreted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This change meant that accidentally killing birds during an activity (like construction) would not be against the law, as long as the activity's main purpose was not to kill birds. Many former Interior Department officials, from both Republican and Democratic administrations, opposed this change.
Interior Department Employees
In June 2017, Zinke suggested cutting 4,000 jobs from the Interior Department. He also ordered 50 senior employees to be moved to different jobs, sometimes in new locations and in areas where they had little experience. One scientist said this was punishment for speaking out about climate change.
Zinke also said that about one-third of Interior Department employees were not loyal to President Trump. These comments were criticized by groups representing park employees and retired wildlife service workers.
Budget Proposals
In 2018, Zinke proposed budget cuts for the Interior Department, especially for the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. He also suggested greatly reducing funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
2018 Wildfires
In August 2018, Zinke initially blamed "environmental terrorist groups" for the wildfires in California, saying they had "nothing to do with climate change." However, fire scientists and experts disagreed, saying the fires were made worse by heat and drought caused by climate change. Later that month, Zinke admitted that climate change played a part in the fires.
Departure from Office
On December 15, 2018, President Trump announced that Zinke would leave his position as Secretary of the Interior at the end of the year. Zinke stated that he could not justify spending money to defend himself and his family against "false allegations." His resignation came as he faced several investigations into his actions and spending.
Later Career
In January 2019, Zinke started a new job as a managing director at Artillery One, a company that invests in cryptocurrency. He also took on consulting jobs with several energy companies.
Personal Life
Ryan Zinke married Lolita Hand on August 8, 1992. Lolita had a young daughter from a previous marriage. Ryan and Lolita also have two children together. He is Catholic and also identifies as Missouri Synod Lutheran.
Zinke divides his time between Washington, D.C., his hometown of Whitefish, Montana, and Santa Barbara, California, his wife's hometown.
Images for kids
-
Ryan Zinke's signature
-
The flag of the Secretary of the Interior
