WASHINGTON – Former Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum moved one step closer to becoming Interior secretary on Thursday after a fairly casual confirmation hearing before a U.S. Senate panel.
Burgum made it clear that he agrees with President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to boost domestic energy and gas production. Speaking to members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Burgum said: “The American people have clearly placed their trust in President Trump to achieve energy dominance.”
“And energy dominance is the foundation of American prosperity, affordability for American families and unparalleled national security,” he said.
Trump named the wealthy businessman to head the Interior Department, whose broad portfolio includes protecting and managing public lands and fulfilling federal trust obligations to tribal nations.
Climate policy and the energy transition have become the focus of the department, which has around 50 percent $18 trillion budget.
If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, which appears likely, Burgum would succeed Deb Haaland, who made history as the first Native American to serve as Cabinet secretary.
Burgum, who was elected two-term governor of North Dakota, dropped his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2023 before endorsing Trump.
“Drill, baby, drill.”
Trump will take a “drill, baby, drill” approach to oil and gas production during his second term.
Also the novel president vowed to turn back President Joe Biden’s decision in early January to ban future oil and gas drilling off the entire east and west coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the remaining portions of Alaska’s northern Bering Sea.
When Trump selected Burgum as his nominee for Interior secretary in November, he announced that the North Dakota Republican would also lead the novel National Energy Council. Trump said the council will “consist of all departments and agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, and transportation of ALL forms of American energy.”
Burgum noted his accomplishments in leading North Dakota before the panel, noting that his “time as governor was valuable preparation for the opportunity and privilege to potentially assume the role of Secretary of the Interior as our state, and my duty, Especially as governor there, I made contact with many offices within the department.”
If confirmed, he would be assigned to the department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.
“State and tribal relations in North Dakota have been challenged at times, but the current partnership is historically strong because we prioritize tribal engagement through mutual respect, open communication, collaboration and a genuine willingness to listen,” he said, noting that the state shares the same geographical location with five sovereign tribal nations.
“America’s Balance Sheet”
Senators on both sides of the ballot focused on how his efforts would impact their respective states when it comes to: housing shortages in the West, where there are federal lands; staying true to conservation history; Working with the administration to boost natural gas production and create novel export terminals; and federal disaster relief, particularly in lightweight of the devastating wildfires in California.
At one point during the hearing, Burgum noted that “not every acre of federal land is a national park or wilderness area.”
“Some of these areas we absolutely need to protect for their valuable assets, but the rest is America’s bottom line,” he said.
“This agency, the Department of the Interior, has almost 500 million acres of surface, 700 million acres of subsurface, and over 2 billion acres offshore – 2 billion – that’s the balance sheet of America, and if we were a corporation, they would look at us and say, ‘Wow, you’re really limiting your balance sheet.'”
When asked about the existence of climate change, Burgum said he believes that “climate change is certainly a global phenomenon.”
North Dakota Republican Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer praised Burgum’s record and qualifications for the post.
Cramer said: “One of the things that perhaps isn’t often talked about with (former) Gov. Burgum is: He’s not just an oilman from an oil and gas producing state, he’s – first and foremost – a conservationist. “”
Republican Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia also praised Burgum, saying, “If anyone is the first choice, it has to be this man.”
Concern among environmentalists
Burgum has come under scrutiny for his ties to fossil fuel companies, and environmental groups have raised concerns about his nomination.
Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities, said Burgum “seems bent on using America’s public lands to exacerbate the climate crisis while invoking made-up concepts like ‘clean coal’ to achieve his real goal.” justify — billionaires’ oil enrichment and mining at the same time.” Raising energy prices for American consumers and businesses,” it said Thursday opinion.
He is also reported to be in a close relationship with a billionaire Harold Hammthe founder and CEO of Continental Resources – a major oil and gas company.
According to the North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica, Burgum voted on oil and gas companies in which he has an interest on the North Dakota Industrial Commission about 20 times.
Last updated on January 16, 2025 at 4:02 p.m
