Major Controversies Surrounding Ryan Zinke: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Ryan Zinke—discover key moments of controversy.

Ryan Zinke is an American politician and businessman. A Republican, he currently serves as the U.S. Representative for Montana's 1st congressional district, a position he also held for the at-large district from 2015 to 2017. He also served in the Montana State Senate from 2009-2013. Most notably, Zinke was the United States Secretary of the Interior under President Donald Trump from 2017 until he resigned in 2019 amidst several ethics investigations.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

2013: Hosted radio show promoting conspiratorial views

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

2014: FEC Complaint Filed

In 2014, the Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission regarding coordination between Ryan Zinke's campaign and SOFA.

December 2016: No FEC Action on Complaint

As of December 2016, the FEC had taken no action on the matter of the complaint filed in 2014.

2016: Appeared on "Where's Obama's Birth Certificate"

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.

January 19, 2017: Policy Rescinded by Zinke

On January 19, 2017, Zinke rescinded the policy implemented by outgoing Fish and Wildlife Service Director Daniel M. Ashe that banned the use of lead bullets and lead fishing tackle in national wildlife refuges.

April 2017: Review of National Monuments Initiated

In April 2017, Zinke began reviewing at least 27 national monuments to determine whether any of them could be reduced in size.

June 2017: Job Cuts and Reassignments at the Interior Department

In June 2017, Ryan Zinke called for the elimination of 4,000 jobs from the Interior Department and supported the White House proposal to cut the department's budget by 13.4%. He also ordered 50 Interior members of the Senior Executive Service to be reassigned.

June 2017: Recommendation to Scale Back Bears Ears National Monument

In June 2017, Zinke recommended that the boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument be scaled back.

June 2017: Chartered Jet Flight to Las Vegas

On June 26, 2017, Ryan Zinke chartered a flight to give a speech to the Las Vegas Golden Knights. In April 2018, The Interior Department's Office of Inspector General released a report concluding that the speech was not official business because Zinke did not discuss the Interior Department or his role as Interior Secretary.

July 2017: Government Helicopter Use

In July 2017, Ryan Zinke booked government helicopters for more than $14,000 for various trips, including the swearing-in ceremony of his successor in Congress and a horseback ride with Vice President Mike Pence. The Department of Interior defended the use of government helicopters.

September 2017: Report on Chartered Jet Flight

In September 2017, it was reported that Ryan Zinke had chartered a jet on June 26, 2017, belonging to an oil industry executive for a flight from Las Vegas to Kalispell, Montana, costing taxpayers $12,375.

October 2017: Investigation into Charter Flights Launched

In October 2017, the Interior Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) launched an investigation into Ryan Zinke's use of three charter flights during his tenure as Interior Secretary.

October 2017: Hatch Act Investigation Launched

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.

November 2017: Proposed Lifting of Import Ban on Big-Game Trophies

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

December 2017: Politico Reports on Helicopter Use

In December 2017, Politico reported on Ryan Zinke's booking of government helicopters for over $14,000 in June and July 2017. Zinke dismissed the reporting as "total fabrications and a wild departure of reality."

December 2017: Reduction of National Monuments

In December 2017, President Trump, after Zinke's recommendation, signed executive proclamations that reduced Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument by almost 46%. Zinke also recommended shrinking two more national monuments—Gold Butte National Monument and Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument.

2017: First Proposed Budget Cuts to Interior Department

In 2017, Ryan Zinke proposed budget cuts to the Interior Department, primarily affecting the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey.

2017: Remarks on Interior Department Employees' Loyalty

In 2017, Ryan Zinke stated that one-third of Interior Department employees were disloyal to Trump, sparking controversy and objections.

2017: Steps to Unwind Sage-Grouse Plan

In 2017, Zinke took steps to unwind a 2015 plan that protected the greater sage-grouse, potentially opening its habitat to mineral extraction and grazing.

March 1, 2018: Trophy Hunting Permits

On March 1, 2018, the Fish and Wildlife Services declared that it would permit trophy hunting for elephants on a "case-by-case basis."

March 2018: Zinke's Statement on Private Jet Use

In a March 2018 Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Ryan Zinke stated that it was false that he had taken a private jet anywhere, clarifying that the charter flights he took were on aircraft with propellers, not jet engines.

April 2018: OIG Report on Chartered Flights Released

In April 2018, the Interior Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its report, concluding that Ryan Zinke's chartered flight to give the June 2017 speech to the Las Vegas Golden Knights was authorized "without complete information."

August 2018: Remarks on California Wildfires

In August 2018, Ryan Zinke initially blamed "environmental terrorist groups" for the wildfires in California, but later acknowledged that climate change played a part in the fires.

September 2018: Calendar of Activities Vaguely Described

In September 2018, it was noted that the calendars of Ryan Zinke's activities were "so vaguely described... that the public is unable tell what he was doing or with whom he was meeting."

October 2018: Omissions in Zinke's Calendar Revealed

In October 2018, FOIA requests revealed that Ryan Zinke's calendar, which was supposed to cover the Secretary of the Interior's activities, contained glaring omissions.

October 2018: Investigation referred to the Department of Justice

In October 2018, the Interior's inspector general referred the investigation of Ryan Zinke to the Department of Justice.

October 30, 2018: Referral to Department of Justice

As of October 30, 2018, the OIG had referred Ryan Zinke to the Department of Justice for investigation, including of whether he lied to the OIG about his involvement in reviewing a tribal casino project in Connecticut.

2018: Proposed Budget Cuts to Interior Department for 2019

In 2018, Ryan Zinke proposed budget cuts to the Interior Department for fiscal year 2019, which would have cut the Land and Water Conservation Fund to $8 million from $425 million in 2018.

2019: Fiscal year 2019 Budget Cuts to Interior Department Proposed by Zinke in 2018

In 2018, Ryan Zinke proposed budget cuts to the Interior Department for fiscal year 2019, mostly from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. His proposed budget would also have cut the Land and Water Conservation Fund to $8 million from $425 million in 2018.

2019: Probe into Zinke Stalled

In late 2019, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen stalled the probe into Ryan Zinke. Federal prosecutors had proposed to move forward with possible criminal charges against Zinke over his involvement in the casino deal.

May 2020: Criticism of Investigations

In May 2020, Ryan Zinke criticized the investigations that led to his departure, claiming they were politicized.

April 2021: Federal Judge Blocks Expansion of Livestock Grazing

In April 2021, a federal judge blocked the expansion of livestock grazing in Nevada across four hundred square miles of sage-grouse habitat, which was proposed by Zinke in 2017.