United States Department of the Interior is established

Background. In 1849, Walker noted in his annual report that several federal offices had been placed in departments with which they had little to do. The General Land Office had been created in 1812 to take over functions previously conducted by the Treasury Department. The Office of Indian Affairs gained statutory authority in 1832 and was transferred to the newly created Department of the Interior in 1849.

Legislative Process. A bill authorizing the creation of the Department of the Interior passed the House of Representatives on February 15, 1849. The bill spent just over two weeks in the Senate before being voted on. On March 3, 1849, the Senate voted 31 to 25 to create the department, coinciding with the eve of President Zachary Taylor's inauguration.

Incorporated Offices. The new department incorporated the General Land Office, which had been an independent agency responsible for public domain lands. The Office of Indian Affairs was transferred to the newly created Department of the Interior in 1849; the bureau was renamed from Office of Indian Affairs to Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1947. These offices were moved from their previous administrative homes.