70 Facts About Ryan Zinke

Ryan Keith Zinke is an American politician and businessman serving as the US representative for since 2023.

Ryan Zinke served as the United States secretary of the interior under president Donald Trump from 2017 until his resignation in 2019 following a series of ethics inquiries.

Ryan Zinke graduated from multiple colleges before he was a US Navy SEAL from 1986 until 2008, retiring as a commander.

Ryan Zinke was confirmed on March 1,2017, becoming the first SEAL and the first Montanan since statehood to occupy a Cabinet position.

On December 15,2018, Trump announced that Ryan Zinke would leave his post as of January 2,2019, to be replaced by his deputy, David Bernhardt.

The Inspector General's report concluded that Ryan Zinke had repeatedly violated ethical rules and then lied to investigators.

Ryan Zinke was born in Bozeman, Montana, and raised in Whitefish.

Ryan Zinke is the son of Jean Montana Harlow Petersen and Ray Dale Zinke, a plumber.

Ryan Zinke was a star athlete at Whitefish High School and accepted a football scholarship to the University of Oregon in Eugene; recruited as an outside linebacker, he switched to offense and was an undersized starting center for the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-10 under head coach Rich Brooks.

Ryan Zinke earned a bachelor of science degree in geology in 1984 and graduated with honors.

Ryan Zinke intended to pursue a career in underwater geology.

Ryan Zinke earned a master's degree in business administration from National University in 1993 and a Master of Science degree in global leadership from the University of San Diego in 2003.

Ryan Zinke served as a US Navy SEAL from 1986 to 2008, retiring at the rank of commander.

Ryan Zinke served at the command until 1993, during which time he planned, rehearsed, and took part in carrying out classified operations.

Ryan Zinke then served as a Plans officer for Commander in Chief, US Naval Forces, Europe and served a second tour with NSWDG as team leader, ground force commander, task force commander and current operations officer from 1996 to 1999.

Ryan Zinke's former commanding officer, retired vice admiral Albert M Calland III, said that as a result, Zinke received a June 1999 Fitness Report that blocked him from being promoted to a commanding officer position or to the rank of captain.

Ryan Zinke acknowledged the error but maintains that the incident did not adversely affect his career.

From 1999 to 2001, Ryan Zinke served as executive officer for Naval Special Warfare Unit Two and then as executive officer, Naval Special Warfare Center from 2001 to 2004.

In 2004, Ryan Zinke was the deputy and acting commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula.

In 2005, Ryan Zinke formed Continental Divide International, a property management and business development consulting company.

In 2009, Ryan Zinke formed the consulting company On Point Montana.

Ryan Zinke served on the board of the oil pipeline company QS Energy from 2012 to 2015.

In November 2014, Ryan Zinke announced that he would pass Continental Divide to his family while remaining in an advisory role.

Ryan Zinke is working on a test bed project in Kosovo, where Zinke served during his time in the US Navy.

Ryan Zinke was elected to the Montana Senate in 2008, serving from 2009 to 2013, representing the city of Whitefish.

Ryan Zinke was selected as chair of the Senate Education Committee and promoted technology in the classroom, rural access to education and local control over schools.

Ryan Zinke served on the Senate Finance and Claims Committee.

In 2008, Ryan Zinke said he "support[s] increased coal production for electrical generation and believe[s] it can and should be done with adequate environmental safeguards" and that he "believe[s] the use of alternate energy sources and clean coal is preferred over petroleum based fuels".

In 2013, Ryan Zinke hosted a radio show in which he engaged with and promoted fringe conspiratorial views, including birtherism.

Ryan Zinke said on the show that he was not sure whether Obama was a foreign citizen and called on Obama to release his college transcripts.

Later, in 2016, as a congressman, Ryan Zinke appeared on the radio show Where's Obama's Birth Certificate, known for its promotion of birther conspiracy theories.

Ryan Zinke was the running mate of Montana gubernatorial candidate Neil Livingstone in the 2012 election.

In 2012, Ryan Zinke founded a super PAC named Special Operations for America, or SOFA, to support Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign.

Ryan Zinke announced he was resigning as chairman of SOFA on September 30,2013, with his friend former Navy SEAL Gary Stubblefield taking his place.

In 2016, Ryan Zinke ran unopposed in the Republican primary on June 7 and faced the Democratic nominee, Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau in the general election on November 8.

In Congress, Ryan Zinke supported the deployment of US ground troops to combat ISIS, "abandoning" the Affordable Care Act, and cutting regulations.

Ryan Zinke supported a Republican effort to repeal the estate tax.

In 2015, Ryan Zinke voted for an amendment proposed by Representative Dave Loebsack that provided for the expansion of the use of digital learning through the establishment of a competitive grant program to implement and evaluate the results of technology-based learning practices.

Ryan Zinke frequently voted in opposition to environmentalists on issues including coal extraction and oil and gas drilling.

Ryan Zinke visited with Florida governor Ron DeSantis and exempted only Florida's coast from drilling.

Ryan Zinke has shifted over time on the issue of climate change.

Ryan Zinke broke with most Republicans on the issue of transfers of federal lands to the states, calling such proposals "extreme" and voting against them.

Ryan Zinke said he endorsed "better management of federal land" rather than transfers.

Ryan Zinke was named as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for United States Secretary of the Interior on December 13,2016, at the recommendation of Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr.

Ryan Zinke had the support of both of Montana's senators, including Democrat Jon Tester.

Ryan Zinke was sworn into office by Vice President Mike Pence the same day.

The day after his swearing-in, Ryan Zinke rode a United States Park Police horse named Tonto several blocks to the entrance of the Department of Interior's Main Interior Building to his official welcoming ceremony.

On his first full day in office, Zinke rescinded the policy implemented by outgoing Fish and Wildlife Service Director Daniel M Ashe on January 19,2017, the last day of the Obama administration, that banned the use of lead bullets and lead fishing tackle in national wildlife refuges.

Ryan Zinke recommended changes to the management of six other national monuments.

In September 2017, it was reported that on June 26, Ryan Zinke had chartered a jet belonging to an oil industry executive for a flight from Las Vegas to Kalispell, Montana.

In December 2017, Politico reported that Ryan Zinke had booked government helicopters for more than $14,000 to travel in June and July 2017.

In October 2017, the United States Office of Special Counsel launched a Hatch Act investigation into Ryan Zinke's meeting with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Ryan Zinke said the OIG interviewed him twice about the casino decision and that he was truthful both times.

In November 2017, it was announced that Trump, on Ryan Zinke's advice, wanted to lift the import ban on elephant and other big-game trophies from Zambia and Zimbabwe to the United States.

In 2017, Ryan Zinke took steps to unwind a 2015 plan that protected the greater sage-grouse.

In 2017, in a speech to the National Petroleum Council, Ryan Zinke said that one-third of Interior Department employees were disloyal to Trump and that "[he's] got 30 percent of the crew that's not loyal to the flag".

Ryan Zinke's remarks prompted objections from the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, Public Lands Foundation and Association of Retired Fish and Wildlife Service Employees and Senator Maria Cantwell, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

In 2018, as in 2017, Ryan Zinke proposed budget cuts to the Interior Department for fiscal year 2019, mostly from the Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Geological Survey.

Ryan Zinke's proposed budget would have cut the Land and Water Conservation Fund to $8 million from $425 million in 2018.

Later that month, Ryan Zinke walked back some of his earlier remarks, acknowledging that climate change played a part in the fires.

Ryan Zinke said that preventing removal of dead trees has increased the amount of flammable material and hurt timber salvaging.

Ryan Zinke met with lobbyists and business executives on a number of occasions.

On December 15,2018, Trump announced that Ryan Zinke would leave "the Administration at the end of the year"; he later tweeted that he would name the new Secretary of the Interior the following week.

Ryan Zinke has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation.

In May 2020, Ryan Zinke criticized the investigations that led to his departure, saying they were politicized and that such investigations would result in only billionaires being able to afford to serve in a public office.

In June 2021, Ryan Zinke announced his candidacy to return to the US House of Representatives, this time in Montana's 1st congressional district, which was reconstituted after the 2020 census.

Ryan Zinke defeated Democratic nominee Monica Tranel in the general election.

In 2023, Ryan Zinke voted against House Concurrent Resolution 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove US troops from Syria within 180 days.

Ryan Zinke was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.

On his congressional website, Ryan Zinke touted the proposed bill as legislation aiming to "Expel Palestinians from the United States".