Diné with LeChee roots nominated as assistant secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs
WINDOW ROCK
President Donald Trump nominated William “Billy” Kirkland III of Georgia to serve as the assistant secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, replacing Bryan Todd Newland, who served under former President Joe Biden.
If confirmed, Kirkland will oversee federal policies and programs affecting Native American tribes across the United States, including economic development, land management, education, and federal trust responsibilities.
A member of the Navajo Nation, whose mother is from LeChee, Arizona, Kirkland was raised in Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia. A seasoned Republican strategist, Kirkland has played a key role in Georgia’s political landscape, leading major Senate campaigns, including those of David Perdue in 2014 and Kelly Loeffler in 2020. He also served as a senior advisor to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign in Georgia and later worked on the White House Inauguration Committee before becoming a senior strategist for Vice President Mike Pence.
During his tenure as deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Kirkland worked extensively with tribal leaders, including the Navajo Nation, and played a pivotal role in Trump’s response to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis, launching Operation Lady Justice.
His nomination was received by the Senate on Feb. 3, 2025, and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for review. The confirmation process will now proceed through committee hearings before a potential full Senate vote.
Former Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer, who was also considered for the position, voiced his support for Kirkland’s nomination.
“Billy Kirkland is a friend of mine. He had the inside track as he worked in the White House. I expect Billy to be a solid pick for ASIA. I also expect to continue to have access to BIA and offer some solid recommendations as I know Billy and I have worked really well. I will hold him to truly working hard for Navajo and Indian Country,” Lizer said on Tuesday.
Lizer said he’s en route to Washington, D.C., today, Feb. 4.
Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow