The director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for direction and leadership of the agency.[2] Within the director's office are the deputy director, who assists the director in coordination of the USGS; and eight associate directors, each overseeing a particular program, who report to the director.[3] The director is typically sworn in by the Secretary of the Interior—for example, Bruce Babbitt swore in Charles Groat,[4] and Deb Haaland swore in David Applegate.[5]
The U.S. Geological Survey was established in 1879 by an act of Congress. Clarence King was appointed as the first director.[6] King was picked because he was the leader of a USGS predecessor survey.[7]
Later, in 2018, during the confirmation of James Reilly at a hearing with the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the committee emphasized the fact that the appointee would have to protect scientific integrity within the USGS. This was a new theme, stemming from concerns over other people nominated to positions by President Trump.[8] It was also noted that Trump had taken more than a year to announce Reilley's nomination, which was noted by The Washington Post as a departure from the usual time a president would take to nominate someone for the role.[9]