Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, accompanied by Republican lawmakers, signs an order in March lifting a moratorium on new coal leases on federal lands and a related order on coal royalties. “I got 30 percent of the crew that’s not loyal to the flag,” the secretary said, according to participants. Zinke, a former Navy SEAL, invoked military and seafaring jargon to describe his approach to running the department. That same month, Zinke ordered the reassignments of 50 Senior Executive Service employees, forcing many into jobs for which they had little experience and that were in different locations. The National Petroleum Council advises the Energy Department on policies related to the oil and gas industry, and both Zinke and Energy Secretary Rick Perry delivered opening remarks and took questions at the group’s annual meeting.

Source: Washington Post September 26, 2017 15:47 UTC