In February, 1981, Secretary of the Interior James Watt said, "I do not know how many future generations we can count on before the Lord returns. Whatever it is, we have to manage with a skill to leave the resources needed for future generations."
This statement of Watt's dominionist Christian views, and belief in impending apocalypse, had been made in testimony before the House Interior Committee. In May, asked to expand on his views by The Washington Post, Watt said, "My responsibility is to follow the Scriptures which call upon us to occupy the land until Jesus returns."
