Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump announced he would nominate acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to replace Ryan Zinke, who left the administration late last year.

"I am pleased to announce that David Bernhardt, Acting Secretary of the Interior, will be nominated as Secretary of the Interior. David has done a fantastic job from the day he arrived, and we look forward to having his nomination officially confirmed!" Trump tweeted Monday.

Bernhardt thanked the President in response to the tweet, calling the nomination "a humbling privilege."

It's a humbling privilege to be nominated to lead a Department whose mission I love, to accomplish the balanced, common sense vision of our President. https://t.co/4qKc66CGE6 — Acting Secretary David Bernhardt (@DOIDepSec) February 4, 2019

Trump's choice to have Bernhardt, a former energy lobbyist, lead the Interior Department on a permanent basis would set the stage for a potentially contentious confirmation process.

The Senate confirmed Bernhardt as deputy secretary of the department on a vote of 53-43 in 2017, despite concern from environmental groups about placing the former industry figure in a prominent role overseeing public lands.

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