Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau is leaving his post, the department announced in a press release Wednesday afternoon.
Beaudreau is a longtime Interior Department and Washington insider who has been central to the Biden administration’s efforts on policies ranging from oil and gas leasing on public lands to Colorado River protections.
He also has a reputation as an Interior Department’s ambassador to Capitol Hill Republicans and to the energy industry.
He’ll leave the job at the end of October, the department said.
“Tommy’s impact on the Department can be seen in every aspect of our work,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement. “He has been a valued counselor and friend. His legacy will continue as we carry on our work to implement President [Joe] Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda and steward our public lands and waters for the American people.”
Beaudreau called the job the “greatest honor and responsibility of my career” and said he would “always cherish the opportunities I’ve had to work with the best career staff in federal service and diverse communities across the United States to help figure out solutions to some of the most challenging problems facing our country.”
Beaudreau previously served at Interior during the Obama administration, including as the first director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, acting assistant secretary for land and minerals management, and as chief of staff to then-Secretary Sally Jewell.
