Michael Boren last week assumed the role of acting assistant secretary for policy, management and budget at the U.S. Department of the Interior, a top-ranking—yet temporary—position that oversees about 70,000 employees and 475 million acres of public land owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Boren, 62, is known locally for owning the 480-acre Hell Roaring Ranch south of Stanley and cofounding multibillion-dollar Boise tech firm Clearwater Analytics.

His appointment was announced Wednesday, Sept. 3, alongside 11 other interim leadership moves ordered by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.

“The transition between Presidential administrations routinely results in a significant number of vacant [presidentially

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