Zinke Reportedly Won’t Focus on Diversity

CNN is reporting employees at the Interior Department claim that former Montana Congressman and current Secretary Ryan Zinke said repeatedly that he won’t focus on diversity, an apparent talking point that has upset many people within the agency.

Three high-ranking Interior officials from three different divisions said that Zinke has made comments with a similar theme, saying either “diversity isn’t important,” “I don’t care about diversity,” or “I don’t really think that’s important.” According to sources, Zinke then claimed “what’s important is having the right person for the right job.”

Last year, the Interior Department unexpectedly reassigned 33 senior executive staffers, of whom 15 were minorities. Some of those who were reassigned have filed complaints with the US Merit Systems Board. KTVQ.com reports the accusations against Zinke accompany the investigation regarding employee reassignment and taxpayer spending on politically-related travel.