Who Is Ryan Zinke? Trump Picks Montana Congressman To Be Interior Secretary: Report

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen his secretary of the interior, Politico reported exclusively Tuesday.

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., was reportedly offered the job this week, though as of Tuesday afternoon Trump's transition team had not put out a statement confirming his nomination. Zinke's office would not comment on the news to Politico.

Though Zinke's appointment was not official, his name has been floating around in the press as an interior secretary candidate. Other people thought to be in the running included Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Wash., and Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho.

If confirmed, Zinke will head up the Department of the Interior, which "uses sound science to manage and sustain America’s lands, water, wildlife, and energy resources, honors our nation’s responsibilities to tribal nations, and advocates for America’s island communities," according to its website.

Zinke is a fifth-generation Montanan who grew up near Glacier National Park and played football for the University of Oregon, according to his campaign website. He spent 23 years as a member of the Navy Sea, Air, and Land teams (SEALs), retiring in 2008. He was re-elected as Montana's only member of the U.S. House of Representatives in November.

He's married to Lolita Zinke, who joined Trump's Veterans Administration landing team just after Thanksgiving.

On a press call Monday, Trump spokesman Jason Miller verified that the president-elect was scheduled to meet with Zinke, whom he called "an early Trump supporter."

"Congressman Zinke is a strong advocate for American energy independence. And he supports an all-encompassing energy policy that includes renewables, fossil fuels, and alternative energy," Miller said, according to a Washington Post transcript of the briefing. "Additionally, Congressman Zinke believes we need to find a way to cut through bureaucracy to ensure our nation's parks, forests, and other public areas are properly maintained and used effectively."