Rick Barrett

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Outgoing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has emerged as a potential contender for the U.S. Interior secretary’s job as Ryan Zinke prepares to step down at the end of the year, Bloomberg Business News reported Saturday.

The role has typically been filled by Western politicians with experience in federal land management. But Bloomberg included Walker among a list of potential candidates to fill the soon-to-be-vacant post in President Donald Trump's administration.

Other possible contenders, it said, include: Cynthia Lummis, a former congresswoman from Wyoming; Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes; Raul Labrador, an Idaho representative who’s leaving Congress; Adam Laxalt, the Nevada attorney general who lost his bid to be governor; Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter; former Nevada Sen. Dean Heller, who lost his re-election bid in November; and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state.

Trump announced on Twitter Saturday that Zinke would be stepping down and his replacement is expected to be named next week.

"Ryan has accomplished much during his tenure and I want to thank him for his service to our Nation," Trump said on Twitter.

A former Montana congressman, Zinke, 57, has been the subject of multiple investigations over his travel, political activities and potential conflicts of interest.

Zinke issued a statement on Twitter, saying, "I love working for the President and am incredibly proud of all the good work we’ve accomplished together. However, after 30 years of public service, I cannot justify spending thousands of dollars defending myself and my family against false allegations."

Zinke is the latest top-level Trump adviser who will be leaving the administration within the coming weeks, joining Chief of Staff John Kelly and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Cabinet officials who have already left include Jeff Sessions, attorney general; Rex Tillerson, secretary of state; Dave Shulkin, secretary of veterans affairs; Tom Price, secretary of health and human services; and Scott Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Zinke's departure comes only weeks before Democrats take over control of the House after flipping 40 GOP seats in the midterm elections. Armed with subpoena power, Democratic leaders had said they planned to hold Zinke accountable for administration moves to reduce the size of public monuments, scale back protections on endangered species and expand off-shore drilling.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, likely incoming House speaker, called Zinke a “shameless handmaiden for the special interests.”

"His staggering ethical abuses have delivered a serious and lasting blow to America’s public lands, environment, clean air and clean water," she said.

Walker on Friday said in recent weeks he had been presented with some opportunities to work in Washington, D.C., but decided to stay in Wisconsin.



When asked whether he was asked to join the Trump administration, he said, “I’m planning on staying here.”

Molly Beck of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and USA Today contributed to this report.