Ryan Zinke

Ryan Zinke
Born	Ryan Keith Zinke 1 11, 1961
Birthplace	Bozeman, Montana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	52nd United States Secretary of the Interior, U.S. Navy SEAL, U.S. Representative for Montana
Education	University of Oregon (BS) National University (MBA) University of San Diego (MS)
Children	3
Awards	Bronze Star Medal (2) Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2) Meritorious Service Medal (4)
Website	[[zinke.house.gov zinke.house.gov] Official site]

Ryan Keith Zinke (born November 1, 1961) is an American politician, businessman, and retired U.S. Navy SEAL commander who has served as the U.S. representative for Montana's 1st congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Zinke's career in public service has spanned military, state legislative, congressional, and Cabinet-level positions. He represented Montana's at-large congressional district from 2015 to 2017 before being appointed by President Donald Trump as the 52nd United States Secretary of the Interior. His tenure at Interior, which lasted from March 2017 until his resignation in January 2019, was marked by significant policy shifts regarding federal land management and energy development, as well as multiple ethics investigations that ultimately led to his departure from the Cabinet. Before entering politics, Zinke served in the U.S. Navy for over two decades, becoming a SEAL officer and retiring at the rank of commander in 2008. He was the first Navy SEAL elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first Montanan since statehood to serve in a presidential Cabinet.

Early Life

Ryan Keith Zinke was born on November 1, 1961, in Bozeman, Montana. He grew up in Whitefish, Montana, a small city in the northwestern part of the state near Glacier National Park. Zinke's upbringing in Montana's Flathead Valley, surrounded by the public lands and wilderness areas of the Northern Rockies, shaped much of his later political identity and policy interests relating to natural resource management and federal lands.

Zinke was a multi-sport athlete in high school and earned a football scholarship to the University of Oregon, where he played as an offensive lineman for the Oregon Ducks. His athletic background and competitive drive would later serve him during the demanding selection and training process for the Navy SEALs.

Education

Zinke earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Oregon. He later pursued graduate education while serving in the military, obtaining a Master of Business Administration from National University and a Master of Science degree from the University of San Diego. His multiple graduate degrees reflected a pattern of continued education throughout his military career, which spanned more than two decades of active and reserve service.

Career

Military Service

Zinke entered the United States Navy in 1986 and was selected for training as a Navy SEAL, one of the military's most elite special operations units. Over the course of his 22-year military career, Zinke served in multiple deployments and held various command and operational positions within the SEAL community.

His Navy service record drew public scrutiny during his 2014 congressional campaign. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported that a review of Zinke's Navy record "comes out clean," though the Missoulian noted that his records also showed both praise and lapses, including issues related to travel claims. Zinke released portions of his Navy records during the campaign, though Democratic opponents called for the release of additional documentation.

Zinke retired from the Navy in 2008 at the rank of commander. Over the course of his career, he received numerous military decorations, including two Bronze Star Medals, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, and an Army Commendation Medal.

Montana State Senate

Following his retirement from the Navy, Zinke entered Montana politics. He was elected to the Montana Senate in 2008, representing the 2nd district, which encompassed the Flathead Valley area of northwestern Montana. He served one term from January 3, 2009, to January 3, 2013, succeeding Dan Weinberg and being succeeded by Dee L. Brown.

During his time in the state Senate, Zinke began to develop the political profile that would define his subsequent campaigns and federal career, focusing on issues related to natural resources, public lands, and economic development in Montana.

U.S. House of Representatives (2015–2017)

In 2014, Zinke ran for Montana's at-large congressional seat, which had been vacated when Republican Steve Daines successfully ran for the United States Senate. Zinke won the Republican primary and then the general election, becoming the first Navy SEAL elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. His campaign attracted significant fundraising, with reports noting that both Zinke and his Democratic opponent raised substantial sums for the U.S. House race.

In Congress, Zinke served on the Natural Resources Committee and the Armed Services Committee, two panels aligned with his military background and Montana's significant public lands portfolio. He supported the use of ground troops in the Middle East to combat the Islamic State (ISIS) and opposed the Affordable Care Act.

On federal lands policy — a dominant issue in Montana politics — Zinke distinguished himself from some members of his party by opposing the transfer of federal lands to individual states, a position favored by many Western Republican legislators. He resigned his position as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention over this disagreement with the party's platform on public lands. This stance earned him support from some conservation groups in Montana while maintaining his broader Republican credentials.

Zinke also supported the repeal of the federal estate tax, joining Montana Republicans and farm organizations in urging the Senate to follow the House in eliminating what they termed the "death tax."

His positions on social issues, particularly abortion, drew varying responses. The Billings Gazette reported that Zinke's votes on abortion drew criticism, though he maintained that he was pro-life.

Zinke was reelected in November 2016, winning his second term representing Montana's at-large district. However, he would serve only a short portion of his second term before being nominated for a Cabinet position.

Secretary of the Interior (2017–2019)

On December 13, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he had selected Zinke to serve as the 52nd United States Secretary of the Interior. The Washington Post reported on the selection, noting Zinke's background as a Navy SEAL and his positions on energy and public lands policy. Zinke was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 1, 2017, becoming the first Navy SEAL and the first Montanan since statehood to hold a Cabinet-level position. His successor in Montana's at-large House seat was Greg Gianforte, who won a May 2017 special election.

As Secretary of the Interior, Zinke oversaw the United States Department of the Interior, which manages approximately 500 million acres of federal land — about one-fifth of the total land area of the United States — along with agencies including the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Zinke pursued an "energy dominance" agenda that aligned with the Trump administration's broader economic and energy policies. He opened some federal lands for oil, gas, and mineral exploration and extraction, reversing or modifying several Obama-era environmental protections. His approach to federal land management represented a shift toward increased resource development on public lands.

On the issue of climate change, Zinke's positions drew scrutiny. The Washington Post reported that Trump's pick for Interior secretary appeared unable to articulate a consistent position on climate change, noting shifts in his public statements on the topic.

Ethics Investigations and Resignation

Zinke's tenure as Secretary of the Interior was marked by a series of ethics inquiries and investigations conducted by the Office of Inspector General of the Interior Department. The investigations examined various aspects of his conduct in office, including travel arrangements, real estate dealings, and potential conflicts of interest.

In October 2018, the Interior Department's Inspector General referred its investigation to the Department of Justice, indicating that the matters under review warranted potential criminal investigation. On December 15, 2018, President Trump announced that Zinke would leave his post as of January 2, 2019. He was replaced by his deputy secretary, David Bernhardt, who served first in an acting capacity and was later confirmed as Zinke's permanent successor.

The Inspector General's report, when released, concluded that Zinke had repeatedly violated ethical rules during his time as Secretary and had subsequently lied to investigators examining his conduct. The findings represented a significant conclusion to his Cabinet tenure and became a focal point in subsequent political campaigns.

Return to Congress (2023–present)

Following the 2020 U.S. Census, Montana gained a second congressional seat for the first time since 1993, and the state's new congressional map created two districts: a western district (Montana's 1st congressional district) and an eastern district (Montana's 2nd congressional district). Zinke ran for the newly created 1st district seat in 2022 and won, returning to the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2023.

In his current term, Zinke has focused on issues relevant to western Montana, including natural resource management, wildlife conservation, and rural community access to government services. In November 2025, Zinke and Representative Don Beyer of Virginia introduced bipartisan legislation to codify a wildlife crossing program, aimed at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and improving habitat connectivity.

In December 2025, Zinke and Senator Tim Sheehy released statements regarding the proposed Sheep Creek Mine in Montana, addressing concerns about mining development in the state. His office also announced expanded mobile office hours across rural areas of western Montana to improve constituent access to federal services.

As of early 2026, Zinke was preparing to campaign for reelection to Montana's 1st Congressional District, with the 2026 race shaping up as one of the state's most closely watched contests. Potential challengers included Sam Forstag, a smokejumper and union leader, who announced a campaign focused on pro-worker policies in an effort to unseat Zinke.

Personal Life

Zinke has three children. He and his family have maintained their residence in Whitefish, Montana, in the Flathead Valley region of the state's northwest. A financial disclosure report reviewed by the Missoulian during his 2014 congressional campaign indicated that Zinke had amassed more personal wealth than his Democratic opponent in the race, John Lewis.

In 2017, Zinke joined other Montana lawmakers in publicly denouncing planned neo-Nazi rally activities in the state. The Forward reported that Montana's congressional delegation united to condemn the rally plans.

Recognition

Zinke's military service earned him multiple decorations over the course of his 22-year Navy career. His awards include two Bronze Star Medals, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, and an Army Commendation Medal.

His election to Congress in 2014 was noted as a historic achievement: he became the first Navy SEAL to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. His subsequent confirmation as Secretary of the Interior in 2017 added another distinction, making him the first Navy SEAL and the first Montanan since statehood to hold a presidential Cabinet position.

His stance against the transfer of federal public lands to state control — a position that put him at odds with elements of his own party — earned him recognition from some conservation and sportsmen's organizations in Montana and the West, though his subsequent actions as Interior Secretary on energy development and land management policies drew criticism from some of those same groups.