David Bernhardt
Partner
ABOUT
David Bernhardt is the Founder and Chairman of the Bernhardt Group and an unquestionable leader in driving change in the government. Beyond his time serving as Secretary of the Interior, David’s strategic, legal and policy leadership impacted hundreds of decisions and outcomes while serving in various roles at Interior. He has played a critical role in shaping national strategies on energy, land use conservation and regulatory reform. He is the only person in U.S. history to be Senate-confirmed as Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
ISSUE AREAS
Federal Administrative & Regulatory Policy, Government Relations, Energy, Environment & Resource Strategies and Strategic Advisory Services
As Secretary of the Interior, David led the department through a period of rapid modernization, focusing on energy development, regulatory reform and organizational transformation. He managed an annual budget of $16 billion, oversaw a vast public lands portfolio and guided key rulemakings that significantly impacted natural resource management. Notably, he was the architect of the administration’s critical minerals policy, and he played a central role in advancing the Great American Outdoors Act, one of the most impactful conservation laws in modern history.
David’s experience goes beyond the executive branch. As a lawyer and strategic advisor, he has guided clients across the energy, infrastructure and environmental sectors, providing clear direction through legal ambiguity and political volatility. He currently sits on the board of Trump Media & Technology Group (Truth Social). He previously chaired the Center for American Freedom at the America First Policy Institute and is the author of You Report to Me, a widely read critique of federal agency overreach and the modern administrative state.