Balash Resigns – But Alaska Is Still in Good Hands with Key People in D.C.

August 20, 2019

With nothing but good things to say about his time with the Department of the Interior and his role as Assistant Secretary of State for Land and Minerals Management, Alaskan Joe Balash resigned his position, effective end-of-day on August 30, 2019.

While no reason was given for his departure, he did state that he was leaving on good terms and will provide more information after his tenure with Interior is complete.

His resignation read, in part, “While much has been done, much more remains to do.  By embracing your [President Trump’s] policies, we can realize the potential our domestic energy economy to strengthen our country through increased national security, job creation, and revenues for the American people.  I am completely confident that Secretary Bernhardt and the professional men and women at the Department of the Interior will continue to faithfully carry out your vision for America’s public lands.”

Alaska loses a champion for our state with Balash’s departure, but is still well-represented in our nation’s capital.  Aside from the incredible congressional team of Congressman Don Young and Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, Alaskans hold key positions with Tara Sweeney as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in the Department of the Interior, Steve Wackowski serving as Interior’s Senior Advisor for Alaska Affairs, as well as Gregg Renkes and Kate MacGregor, who both have management roles in Interior.

Power The Future congratulates Joe Balash for his leadership role with Interior, and wishes him the best in his new journey.  He has worked with other leaders in Washington, D.C. to set Alaska up for a bright future, as our state embraces solid balance between environmental stewardship and responsible resource development.  With projects from ANWR 1002 lease sales to Pebble’s final EIS to Southeast timber leases set for later this year or early 2020, we’re bullish on Alaska’s potential.