David Bernhardt, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior under President Donald Trump, has rejoined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, a Washington-based law and lobbying firm. The firm announced his return on Tuesday.
Bernhardt, who previously led the firm’s natural resources department, left in 2016 to work on Trump’s transition team and then served as Interior Secretary. Most recently, Bernhardt has focused on nonprofit work. He currently chairs the Center for American Freedom at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aligned with Trump.
In December 2018, Bernhardt became acting Interior Secretary following the resignation of Ryan Zinke, who faced ethics investigations. He was confirmed by the Senate in a 56-41 vote.
Bernhardt has not yet commented on whether he plans to register as a lobbyist again. His past lobbying clients include Noble Energy, Rosemont Copper, Sempra Energy, and California’s Westlands Water District.
Before his tenure with Trump, Bernhardt worked in the Interior Department during the George W. Bush administration. The Interior Department oversees more than one-fifth of U.S. land, playing a key role in Trump’s policy to increase domestic oil, natural gas, and coal production.
Brownstein’s clients have included major companies such as NEOM, Apollo Global Management, Exxon Mobil, and Purdue Pharma.
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