The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday to confirm Katharine MacGregor to be the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior with a 58-38 vote. MacGregor has been serving as the deputy chief of staff, exercising the authority of the deputy secretary since May 2019.

“Kate will be a tremendous leader and serve the American people admirably,” U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt said. “I am pleased that the Senate finally confirmed her.”

MacGregor said, “I am humbled and so grateful to President [Donald] Trump, Secretary Bernhardt and the Senate for this incredible opportunity. Now, I look forward to getting back to work to fulfill the President's priorities to promote economic strength for all Americans and to advance the mission of DOI.”

MacGregor has served in several positions at the department since joining the Trump Administration in January 2017, including principal deputy assistant secretary--land and minerals management and deputy chief of staff. MacGregor has worked on issues that include improving responsible domestic energy and mineral development, combating missing and murdered American Indians and Alaskan Natives, enhancing rural broadband and executing on other Administration priorities.

Prior to joining DOI, MacGregor worked on Capitol Hill for 10 years, serving for two chairmen of the House Natural Resources Committee.

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She is a native of Pennsylvania and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa.

Public Lands Council executive director and National Cattlemen’s Beef Assn. executive director of natural resources Kaitlynn Glover applauded the confirmation.

“Throughout her career, Kate MacGregor has been a thought leader on land management issues. From her time on the House Committee on Natural Resources to her work at the Department of the Interior, Kate has demonstrated her commitment to ensuring a strong and healthy future for our public lands. We congratulate her on her confirmation and look forward to working with her in this new role,” Glover said in a statement.

More than 200 elected leaders and external stakeholder organizations throughout the country expressed their support for MacGregor’s nomination to be the next DOI deputy secretary.

“Kate MacGregor clearly knows the issues surrounding energy development, wildlife, water and other natural resources,” Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said. “She understands the federal government should be a good neighbor when dealing with landowners, mineral split estates and state agencies.”

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“Kate MacGregor’s deep knowledge and experience of natural resources, environmental, energy, public lands and wildlife issues mean she understands how to strike the balance between conservation and productive uses of public lands,” Western Energy Alliance president Kathleen Sgamma said.

“Kate MacGregor has demonstrated her vested commitment to advancing public access opportunities on federal lands and waters for a diversity of outdoor recreationalists, including America’s sportsmen and women, while also advancing sound conservation policies,” Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation president Jeffrey Crane said.