Department of the Interior

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) manages about 75% of federal public lands, protects natural resources, and upholds trust responsibilities to Native American tribes and indigenous communities. Established in 1849, it oversees national parks, wildlife refuges, endangered species, historic sites, and energy development on public lands.

Core Functions

DOI handles a wide range of duties through agencies like the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. Learn more in What the Department of the Interior Does, which details operations from conservation to resource regulation. It also governs offshore energy, as outlined in How Offshore Oil Drilling Rights Are Decided in the United States, balancing extraction with environmental protection.

Major Challenges

The department faces ongoing tensions in its work. Challenges Facing the Department of the Interior covers issues like conservation versus development, climate impacts, maintenance backlogs, and tribal obligations amid demands for recreation and energy.