Former North Dakota governor Doug Burgum was confirmed as the Interior Secretary by the Senate late Thursday with considerable backing from Senate Democrats, receiving a 79-18 vote in his favor.
Driving the news: Burgum, 68, hails from a North Dakota farming community and previously served two terms as the governor of the state.
- He briefly ran a presidential campaign in 2023, withdrawing a few months later and promptly endorsing president Donald Trump.
The big picture: Apart from being appointed as the Interior Secretary, Burgum was also selected by Trump to chair the newly established National Energy Council, with the mandate to achieve American “energy dominance.”
- Additionally, he would hold a seat on the National Security Council, becoming the first Interior Secretary to do so.
- President Trump’s directive to Burgum emphasized facilitating easier access for energy companies to exploit fossil fuel resources, including those on public lands.
Zoom in: In his confirmation hearing, Burgum stressed the potential of energy development as a tool for promoting peace and reducing consumer costs.
- He also voiced skepticism towards renewable power sources promoted during the Biden administration, advocating for more consistent electricity generation from sources like coal and nuclear.
- Democrats raised objections, accusing the Trump administration of abandoning a balanced energy policy in favor of fossil fuels. Conversely, Senator John Barrasso highlighted Burgum’s focus on prioritizing energy innovation over regulatory measures, emphasizing the importance of unlocking lands for oil and gas production.
- Burgum’s confirmation as the Interior Secretary marks a shift from his predecessor, Deb Haaland, who concentrated on scaling back oil and gas sales and promoting solar and wind projects on federal lands under the Biden administration.
