Statements or policies announced by the Department of the Interior

Trump's Nominee Doug Burgum Faces Senate Energy Committee for Interior Secretary Role

Jan 16, 2025, 03:25 PM

Doug Burgum, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Interior, is undergoing a Senate confirmation hearing to oversee U.S. public lands and waters. Burgum, a former North Dakota governor, is expected to advocate for an aggressive energy agenda, focusing on promoting oil, gas, and other energy development in line with Trump's vision of American energy dominance. His nomination comes at a time when the Interior Department oversees significant federal land and offshore areas, producing about one-quarter of U.S. oil. Burgum's background includes being an ultra-wealthy software entrepreneur and a proponent of carbon neutrality by 2030 through initiatives like carbon capture and storage. The hearing, taking place before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is part of a broader set of confirmation hearings for Trump's cabinet picks.