How the Interior Department balances conservation, development, and trust with tribes

The Department of the Interior, created in 1849, encompasses a vast array of missions, managing 480 million acres of federal lands and balancing resource use with conservation.

The role of the Interior secretary is crucial in navigating the conflicting interests of multiple constituencies, whether focusing on resource development or conservation efforts.

With around 70,000 employees, the Department's diverse functions create internal debates, especially regarding the management of lands like Bears Ears National Monument.

The opinions on land use vary with administration shifts, causing significant tension within the agency over resource development versus conservation policies.

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