Director of the U.S. Geological Survey

The director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for direction and leadership of the agency. 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. The director is typically sworn in by the Secretary of the Interior—for example, Bruce Babbitt swore in Charles Groat, and Deb Haaland swore in David Applegate.

History
The U.S. Geological Survey was established in 1879 by an act of Congress. Clarence King was appointed as the first director. King was picked because he was the leader of a USGS predecessor survey.

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. 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.