Assistant Secretary Joe Balash is leaving his post at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Secretary David Bernhardt announced the departure on Twitter saying he stands with President Trump on his (Balash) exemplary service to the American people

Assistant Secretary Joe Balash announced today his plans to move on from @Interior and I stand with @POTUS in thanking him for his exemplary service to the American people. — Secretary David Bernhardt (@SecBernhardt) August 20, 2019

The parcels of land, located in the Eastern Interior of Alaska, had been identified by President Barack Obama in early 2017 as areas of critical environmental concern.