Ryan Zinke
Republican Representative of Montana's 1st district
Representative
Montana
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2017
Representative
Montana
January 3, 2017 - March 1, 2017
Representative
Montana, district 1
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025
3
Congresses Served
3
House Terms
November 1, 1961 (62 years old)
Birthday
- Served as the U.S. representative for Montana’s 1st congressional district since 2023
- Previously served in the Montana Senate from 2009 to 2013
- Was the U.S. representative for Montana’s at-large congressional district from 2015 to 2017
- Served as the United States Secretary of the Interior under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019
- Resigned as Secretary of the Interior in 2019 following ethical scandals
- Graduated with a bachelor of science degree in geology and also holds a master’s degree in business administration and a Master of Science degree in global leadership
- Served as a U.S. Navy SEAL from 1986 to 2008, retiring as a commander
- Supported the use of ground troops in the Middle East to combat ISIS and opposed the Affordable Care Act and various environmental regulations
- As Secretary of the Interior, opened some federal lands for oil, gas, and mineral exploration and extraction
- His tenure as Secretary of the Interior was marked by ethical investigations and controversies
- Founded a property management and business development consulting company and a consulting company named On Point Montana
- Advocated for increased coal production with environmental safeguards and has shifted positions on climate change over time
- Opposed the transfer of federal lands to states and supported better management of federal land
- Has been involved in controversies related to the use of private flights and expenditure during his time as Secretary of the Interior
- Married to Lolita Hand and has three children
- Splits his time among Washington, D.C., Whitefish, Montana, and Santa Barbara, California