Interior Department Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau will step down at the end of this month, capping off a decadelong career at the agency that drew criticism from climate hawks and Big Oil alike.
As the No. 2 official serving under Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Mr. Beaudreau oversees the implementation of President Biden’s green energy agenda and the approval of oil projects.
“Tommy’s impact on the department can be seen in every aspect of our work,” Ms. Haaland said in a statement. “His legacy will continue as we carry on our work to implement President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda and steward our public lands and waters for the American people.”
Mr. Beaudreau did not give a reason for departing. He was confirmed to his role in June 2021 with a Senate vote of 88-9.
“I love the Interior Department, and it has been the greatest honor and responsibility of my career to serve as Secretary Haaland’s deputy in the Biden-Harris administration,” Mr. Beaudreau said in a statement. “I will always cherish the opportunities I’ve had to work with the best career staff in federal service and diverse communities across the United States to help figure out solutions to some of the most challenging problems facing our country.”
The Interior Department did not respond to a request for more information about his departure.
Climate Defiance, an activist group that deploys confrontational tactics such as blocking roadways, disrupting charity events and halting public appearances by Biden administration officials, was quick to take credit. The organization repeatedly confronted Mr. Beaudreau in New York last month during Climate Week over his signature on the administration’s approval this year of the Willow oil project in Alaska.
“Fifteen days ago, we confronted Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau. We called him a ‘climate criminal’ in front of 100s of policymakers and VIPs. We chased him down multiple blocks. We exposed his ecocidal decision to personally sign the Willow project to 100Ks of online viewers,” Climate Defiance wrote in an email to supporters. “Direct. Action. Works.”
Unlike Ms. Haaland’s more leftist stances on energy and the environment, Mr. Beaudreau’s tenure has featured a more middle-of-the-road strategy that’s prompted blowback from both sides.
His involvement in greenlighting the Willow project infuriated activists and Democrats on Capitol Hill.
The administration also has faced backlash from the fossil fuel sector and Republicans for its implementation of hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy spending from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which Mr. Beaudreau helped implement. He also drew criticism for Interior’s drilling ban in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, protecting millions of acres.
Mr. Beaudreau joined the Interior Department in 2010 under the Obama administration.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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