Washington, December 17 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the latest high profile departure from his administration as the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.   In a tweet over the weekend, Trump thanked Zinke for his service, announcing he would part ways with the administration at the end of the year.

It is still unclear whether Zinke, who is former Navy Seal and denies any wrongdoing, resigned of his own volition or was fired from the job.  His departure comes amid allegations of corruption and scrutiny over extravagant government spending. 

Zinke, whose office oversaw federal land including national parks, allegedly granted permission to oil companies to start drilling operations in the protected parks.  He was also known for using taxpayers money for expensive business trips on private jets.

Environmental advocacy groups, who were against his energy development programs, were quick to express satisfaction over his departure. 

"Zinke's days of plundering our lands and enriching himself and his friends are over," Nicole Ghio, senior fossil fuels program manager for Friends of the Earth, said in a statement.  "Zinke's highly questionable ethics have finally caught up with him. Now, he is just another name on Trump's list of disgraced cabinet officials, which the Republican-led Congress has failed to hold accountable."

Trump's administration has had a very high turnover with the number of high-level departures being unprecedented and setting a new record.