WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who is facing federal investigations into his travel, political activity and potential conflicts of interest, will leave the administration at year\u2019s end, President Donald Trump said Saturday.<\/p>\n
Trump, in tweeting Zinke\u2019s departure, said the former Montana congressman \u201caccomplished much during his tenure\u201d and that a replacement would be announced next week. The Cabinet post requires Senate confirmation.<\/p>\n
Zinke is leaving weeks before Democrats take control of the House, a shift in power that promised to intensify probes into his conduct. His departure comes amid a staff shake-up as Trump heads into his third year in office. The president on Friday named White House budget director Mick Mulvaney as his next chief of staff<\/p>\n
Zinke, 57, played a leading part in Trump\u2019s efforts to roll back environmental regulations and promote domestic energy development. When he recently traveling to survey damage from California\u2019s wildfires, Zinke echoed Trump claims that lax forest management was to blame in the devastation.<\/p>\n
He pushed to develop oil, natural gas and coal beneath public lands in line with the administration\u2019s business-friendly aims. But Zinke has been dogged by ethics probes, including one centered on a Montana land deal involving a foundation he created and the chairman of an energy services company that does business with the Interior Department.<\/p>\n
Investigators also are reviewing Zinke\u2019s decision to block two tribes from opening a casino in Connecticut and his redrawing of boundaries to shrink a Utah national monument.<\/p>\n
Zinke has denied wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
The Associated Press reported last month that the department\u2019s internal watchdog had referred an investigation of Zinke to the Justice Department.<\/p>\n
Trump told reporters this fall he was evaluating Zinke\u2019s future in the administration in light of the allegations.<\/p>\n
Asked by reporters last month whether he might fire Zinke, Trump said, \u201cNo, I\u2019m going to look into any complaints.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zinke in November denied he already was hunting for his next job.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy working for the president,\u201d he told a Montana radio station. \u201cNow, If you do your job, he supports you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019m probably going to be the commander of space command,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cHow\u2019s that one?\u201d<\/p>\n
Zinke had a memorable administration debut when he rode a bay roan gelding to his first day of work in March 2017.<\/p>\n