"BATON ROUGE, La. — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington as his secretary of Interior, a source close to the transition told USA TODAY Friday.

The timing of the announcement of Rodgers' selection has not been determined, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because transition officials were not authorized to speak publicly about the nomination.

McMorris Rodgers is chair of the House Republican Conference, which makes her the fourth highest-ranking Republican in the House and the highest-ranking GOP woman in Congress.

News of the pick was swiftly criticized by environmentalists."

David Jackson and Eliza Collins report for USA TODAY December 9, 2016. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Conservation Advocates Alarmed By Trump’S Choice Of Mcmorris Rodgers As Interior Secretary" (Palm Springs Desert Sun) [3]