The Senate endorsed Doug Burgum as the new interior secretary late Thursday, following President Donald Trump’s nomination of the former North Dakota governor to lead the administration’s initiatives aimed at increasing fossil fuel output.
The confirmation vote concluded with a tally of 79 in favor and 18 against, with a significant number of Senate Democrats joining all 53 Republicans to support Burgum.
At the age of 68, Burgum is a wealthy entrepreneur from the software industry, having roots in a small farming community in North Dakota where he began his career at his family’s grain elevator.
Previously, he held two terms as the governor of North Dakota, an oil-rich state, and launched his presidential campaign in 2023, although he withdrew after a few months to endorse Trump.
In addition to serving as interior secretary, Trump appointed Burgum to chair a new National Energy Council aimed at achieving energy dominance for the United States.
This role grants him a seat on the National Security Council, a notable first for someone in his position.
Burgum’s main directive is to facilitate greater access for energy companies to exploit fossil fuel resources, particularly on public lands—a mandate that has raised concerns among environmental advocates and some lawmakers due to the adverse environmental impacts associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions.
While serving as governor, Burgum was known for his favorable stance towards the energy sector, with financial ties to oil companies through leasing family land, which has been documented.
At his confirmation hearing, he emphasized the potential for energy development to foster peace and reduce costs for consumers, indicating that the U.S. should also focus on reliable energy sources such as coal and nuclear power instead of solely depending on renewables.
Democrats criticized the Trump administration for shifting from an “all of the above” energy strategy to a clear preference for fossil fuels, as expressed by Hawaii Democratic Senator Brian Schatz, who pointed out efforts to diminish wind energy initiatives.
Senator John Barrasso from Wyoming, a prominent Republican, supported Burgum’s appointment, stating his intention to prioritize energy innovation over regulatory restraints.
He highlighted significant land areas in Wyoming that have been approved for energy development but have not been utilized under the current administration.
Currently, the U.S. stands as the leading producer of crude oil globally, a position bolstered by advances in drilling technology that have led to significant production booms in states such as New Mexico, Texas, and North Dakota, resulting in substantial tax revenue.
However, these fossil fuel operations also produce vast amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change, as indicated by scientific consensus.
With jurisdiction over approximately 500 million acres of federal land and extensive offshore areas, the Interior Department is responsible for a quarter of the nation’s annual oil output.
The interior secretary is also in charge of various subagencies, including the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
Burgum takes over from Deb Haaland, who implemented a significant reduction in oil and gas sales during the Biden administration while promoting renewable energy projects.
Trump, meanwhile, has reiterated his commitment to revamping energy policies, aiming to lift environmental and public health regulations which he perceives as constraints.
During his recent Senate hearing, Burgum proposed the idea of capturing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels to mitigate their effects on global warming.
However, many skeptics argue that this technology remains unproven on a larger scale and may allow the fossil fuel sector to continue operating largely without change amid the pressing need for climate action.
Under Haaland’s leadership at the Interior, there were efforts to restore protections for threatened species and curb the ease with which private developers could undertake projects on public lands, reversing policies from Trump’s initial term.
Republican lawmakers have indicated their plans to revisit regulations concerning endangered species and are looking for Burgum’s assistance in those endeavors.
Burgum believes that federal lands can serve multiple functions, encompassing recreation, logging, and fossil fuel exploitation, which can bolster local economies.
“Not every acre of federal land is a national park or a wilderness area,” he remarked to lawmakers, outlining his vision for resource utilization.
