MADISON, Wis. AP — Governor Tony Evers has chosen Karen Hyun as the new head of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources DNR. Hyun has been chief of staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since 2021. She also held leadership roles at the National Audubon Society and served in the Department of the Interior in 2015.
The DNR secretary role had been vacant since Adam Payne resigned in November 2023 after just 10 months. When asked why it took so long to fill the position, Evers’ team referred to past comments without providing more details. Earlier this year, Evers said it was challenging to find someone due to resistance from Senate Republicans.
For years, Republicans have been critical of the DNR, accusing it of overly strict pollution rules, buying too much land, and poor deer hunting management. Since Evers became governor in 2019, tensions between him and the GOP over the DNR have grown.
One example of the conflict is Fred Prehn, a policy board member appointed by former Republican Governor Scott Walker. Prehn refused to step down for over a year after his term ended in 2021, keeping a Republican majority on the board. Additionally, Senate Republicans have rejected several of Evers’ appointees to the DNR board.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said Republicans plan to meet with Hyun to discuss her qualifications but didn’t indicate if they will confirm her. Appointees in Wisconsin can work without Senate approval unless the Senate formally votes to reject them.
LeMahieu criticized Evers for not replacing Payne sooner. He argued that a strong DNR leader could have convinced the governor to approve a Republican-backed bill to fight PFAS contamination. Evers vetoed the bill, saying it weakened the DNR’s ability to hold polluters accountable. Both sides have blamed each other for the bill’s failure.
PFAS are man-made chemicals found in products like cookware and stain-resistant clothing. They don’t break down easily and have been linked to health problems, including cancer and liver disease.