President Trump announced his nomination of Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt to take over the Department officially.
Bernhardt is an avid sportsman with experience managing fish and wildlife resources from both a federal and state level. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has worked closely with Bernhardt for more than a year during his role as both Deputy Secretary and now Acting Secretary.
“CSF praises President Trump’s nomination of Bernhardt to lead the Interior Department,” said CSF President Jeff Crane. “He has demonstrated being a true advocate for sportsmen and women across the country by working with the community throughout his career in natural resources management, and implementing Secretarial Orders that promote sportsmen’s access to public lands.”
Bernhardt was confirmed as Deputy Secretary of the Interior in July 2017. Since, he has worked with the sportsmen’s community by joining meetings with conservation leaders to discuss policy priorities and attending events to show his support for the community.
He has also assisted with carrying out recommendations from the newly formed Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council (HSSCC), a federal advisory council charged with providing recommendations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to benefit wildlife, public partnerships, and the hunting and shooting sports. Crane currently serves as Chairman of the HSSCC.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
