February 19, 2021 — The Society of Environmental Journalists sent a letter today to Interior Secretary-Designate Debra Haaland with a list of more than a dozen recommendations for letting the sun shine more fully in the Department of the Interior, including respecting the vital role that journalists play in our democracy.

The letter states, in part, "For the sake of our democracy and the people’s right to know how their resources are being managed, it’s time for Interior to help restore government transparency and accountability. We urge you to renew the agency’s commitment to the mission of informing the public about what the government is doing to address risks to human health and the environment."

• Full text of SEJ's February 19, 2021 letter [2] to Debra Haaland, Secretary-Designate, U.S. Department of the Interior.