Likely to step in as acting secretary is Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt, a former oil and gas lobbyist who has played a key role in many regulatory rollbacks during Zinke’s time as agency chief.

In a statement posted to Twitter, Zinke said he is “extremely proud of all the good work” he and Trump accomplished but “cannot justify spending thousands of dollars defending myself and my family against false allegations.”

“It is better for the President and Interior to focus on accomplishments rather than fictitious allegations,” he added.