Former Texas Comptroller Susan Combs has been nominated to serve as the assistant secretary of the Interior for policy, management and budget by President Donald Trump.
Combs is from a cattle ranching family and served in the Texas House of Representatives before being elected as the state’s first female agriculture commissioner in 1998. She served two terms in that position before being elected Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening cheered the nomination.
“Susan Combs has an extensive career in elected public office, the private sector and agriculture,” Boening said. “She believes in fiscally-responsible government and transparency. Her years of practical experience will be invaluable in her new oversight role in the department of Interior.”
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke also applauded Combs’ nomination.
“I am excited to announce that the president has nominated Susan Combs to be an assistant secretary at Interior,” Zinke said in a statement. “Susan is highly qualified and will be a huge asset as we work to make government more efficient and more accountable to the people. Her experience in both elected office and in the private sector will bring a great perspective to our team here at the department.”
Zinke said he looked forward to her speedy confirmation by the Senate.
“I am deeply honored to be asked to serve in the Trump Administration and to work with Secretary Zinke. The department of the Interior is an extraordinarily important federal department, and I look forward to getting to work,” Combs said in a statement.
In this role, Combs will assist with policy development and management reforms to align efforts among the bureaus and stewardship of Interior’s fiscal resources.
The assistant secretary for policy, management and budget leads the office and serves as the department’s chief financial officer, chief acquisition officer and chief performance officer.
U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz also applauded Combs’ nomination and said she would be a “tremendous” and “invaluable” asset to the department.
In her 16 years as a statewide elected official, Combs’ provided strategic and innovated management, efficient fiscal and operational oversight, successful implementation of practical public-private partnerships and delivered efficient and effective services to the public, which earned her numerous awards.