Secretary Deb Haaland made history when she became the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary, a milestone solidified with her confirmation by the United States Senate on March 15, 2021. Throughout her career in public service, Secretary Haaland has broken barriers and opened the doors of opportunity for future generations. Not only was she elected one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress, but she was also the first Native American woman to lead a state political party in the country, having served as chair of the New Mexico Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017.

A member of the Pueblo of Laguna and 35th generation New Mexican, Secretary Haaland understands the struggles families in America face and often points to her experience as a single mom living paycheck-to-paycheck to advocate for everyday families. In Congress, she focused on environmental justice, climate change, veterans issues, missing and murdered indigenous women, supporting Tribal issues, and family-friendly policies. She is also a known supporter of the Green New Deal and Medicare for All, aligning herself with the political progressives in Congress.

Secretary Haaland holds a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of New Mexico and later earned her J.D. from its law school with a focus on Indian law. She is completing a Master's in American Indian studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. After law school, she ran her own salsa company, worked as a Tribal administrator at San Felipe Pueblo from 2013 to 2015, and was appointed the first woman to chair the Laguna Development Corporation, where she advocated for environmentally friendly policies and oversaw business operations of the second largest tribal gaming enterprise in New Mexico.

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