The Senate voted 79–18 on Thursday to confirm Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Department of the Interior, with a majority of Democrats joining all 53 Republicans in supporting his nomination.
Burgum, a billionaire businessman, former governor of North Dakota, and 2024 presidential candidate, will oversee nearly 500 million acres of public land and 1.7 billion acres of offshore waters. He is expected to lead President Donald Trump’s push for increased domestic oil and gas production, a sharp shift from the Biden administration’s emphasis on renewable energy projects.
Burgum replaces Deb Haaland, who prioritized solar and wind energy on federal lands while limiting new oil and gas leases. Under Trump, the administration is working to reverse those policies and expand fossil fuel production.
A Push for “Energy Dominance”
Burgum has long been a supporter of traditional energy sources, having governed one of the most oil-rich states in the country. During his Senate confirmation hearing, he echoed Trump’s call for “energy dominance” as a pillar of economic strength and national security.
“The American people clearly placed their confidence in President Trump to achieve energy dominance,” Burgum said. “Energy dominance is the foundation of historic American prosperity, affordability for American families, and unrivaled national security.”
His appointment signals a return to pro-oil and gas policies, making it easier and cheaper to extract fossil fuels in the U.S., already the world’s largest producer of crude oil.
While he supports boosting traditional energy, Burgum indicated that existing offshore wind projects would likely continue, but future subsidies for green energy may be reconsidered.
“If they make sense and they’re already in law, I think they’ll continue,” he told lawmakers. “President Trump has been very clear … he’s concerned about the significant amount of tax incentives that have gone towards some forms of energy.”
Expanding His Role in Energy Policy
Beyond overseeing public lands and natural resources, Burgum will also chair the newly formed National Energy Council and hold a seat on the National Security Council—a first for an interior secretary.
His confirmation follows the Senate’s approval of Lee Zeldin as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday. The Senate is also expected to confirm Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy in the coming days, marking another key appointment in Trump’s energy-focused agenda.
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