The Senate has confirmed former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as the next secretary of the interior in a bipartisan vote, further cementing an energy dominance focus in the president’s Cabinet.
Burgum, 68, was confirmed late Thursday night in a 79-18 vote with the majority of Senate Democrats voting in favor. The vote came one day after Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin was confirmed, making Burgum the eighth member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet to be confirmed.
Burgum sailed smoothly through his confirmation hearings in committee earlier this month. Last week, the Senate Committee of Energy and Natural Resources met to discuss advancing Burgum’s nomination to the floor, with only two members voting against.
Several Democrats, including Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO), have said they believe the Republican to be well qualified for the position.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said before the vote that Burgum “will play a critical role in balancing the importance of conserving our wildlife and natural resources while also assisting in the enhancement of domestic energy production.”
Burgum was the governor of North Dakota from 2016 to 2024. During his tenure, the Republican promoted oil and gas development while also promising to reduce the state’s net carbon emissions.
Early in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, he attempted to challenge Trump for the candidacy. However, Burgum dropped his bid and was later floated as a possible candidate for vice president.
In addition to heading the Interior Department, Burgum has been tapped to serve as Trump’s “energy czar.” He is poised to lead the administration’s new National Energy Council, serving alongside CEO of Liberty Energy and energy secretary nominee Chris Wright. The council is expected to comprise all departments and agencies involving domestic energy.
As interior secretary, Burgum is expected to fully support the president’s goals of increasing oil and natural gas production within the United States. During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, the Republican insisted that securing energy dominance in the U.S. will help boost national security.
“When energy production is restricted in America, it doesn’t reduce demand; it just shifts production to countries like Russia, Venezuela, and Iran, whose autocratic leaders don’t care about the environment,” Burgum said.
“In our time, President Trump’s energy dominance can be America’s ‘big stick’ that is leveraged to achieve historic prosperity and world peace,” he added. “The Department of the Interior, in cooperation with U.S. Congress, this committee, and the states, will play a pivotal role in achieving the outcomes to make the world safer and America even better for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come.”
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Burgun has promised to maximize drilling on federal lands in order to maximize resources like natural gas and oil. However, he has also acknowledged the need for renewable energy sources like wind and solar, depending on the region. Burgum’s support for an all-of-the-above energy strategy does break with Trump, who began his administration with aggressive attacks on the wind power industry.
Still, Burgum has said there has to be a “right balance” when it comes to tapping renewables and traditional energy sources like fossil fuels.