Former SEAL Rep. Ryan Zinke Tapped For Interior Secretary

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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) -- Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana has made no secret of his ambition to join a Donald Trump Cabinet, but the job of Interior secretary is in many ways an unlikely fit.

During his re-election campaign in the fall, Zinke identified his top priorities as national security, the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and improving the U.S. economy.

Only after those did he list Interior issues, such as coal mining, oil and gas exploration, protection of public lands and providing more resources for American Indian tribes.

Zinke met with Trump on Monday, according to people with knowledge of the matter who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the transition process publicly. He hadn't yet accepted late Tuesday.

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