Sen. Daines intends to block nomination of Rep. Haaland as Interior secretary

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) has indicated that he will try to block the confirmation of Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) as Interior secretary. 

"I'm deeply concerned with the Congresswoman's support on several radical issues that will hurt Montana, our way of life, our jobs and rural America, including her support for the Green New Deal and President Biden's oil and gas moratorium, as well as her opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline," Daines said in a statement.  

"I'm not convinced the Congresswoman can divorce her radical views and represent what's best for Montana and all stakeholders in the West. Unless my concerns are addressed, I will block her confirmation," he added, following a conversation he held with her. 

Senate rules are such that a single senator can hold up a nomination for a period of time, but ultimately the nominee can still be confirmed with a simple majority vote. Haaland was elected to the House in 2018, and if confirmed, she would be the first Native American to lead the Interior Department.