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On Thursday, the U.S. Senate confirmed former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as secretary of the interior in a bipartisan 79-18 vote.
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, voiced strong support for Burgum’s confirmation, stating, “I was proud to vote to confirm Doug Burgum as President Donald Trump’s Interior Secretary.” She described Burgum as “an outsider and self-made man who entered elected office and delivered for the hardworking people who put him there,” praising his “resilience and determination.”
Ahead of the confirmation, Britt met with Burgum to discuss “the importance of Alabama’s all-of-the-above energy generation portfolio” and “ways to support the ongoing restoration of the 16th Street Baptist Church, part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.”
Reflecting on his tenure as North Dakota’s governor, Britt pointed to Burgum’s “successful track record” as proof of his capability to oversee the wide-ranging responsibilities of the Department of the Interior.
As secretary of the interior, Burgum will also serve as chair of the National Energy Council. Britt expressed confidence in his leadership, stating, “In his position atop the Interior Department and his role as the chair of the National Energy Council, Secretary Burgum is well-equipped to unleash American energy dominance and grow prosperity in every corner of our country.”
She concluded, “I am excited to see what President Trump and his team accomplish, and I look forward to getting the rest of President Trump’s nominees confirmed quickly.”
Burgum will oversee federal land management, natural resources, and key agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service. His mandate from President Trump includes expanding energy production on public lands, with a goal of making it “even easier for energy companies to tap fossil fuel resources.”
His confirmation aligns with a broader effort by the Trump administration to install officials committed to fossil fuel expansion. Other key nominees include Chris Wright for Energy Secretary and Lee Zeldin for EPA Administrator, reinforcing the administration’s focus on maximizing domestic energy output and rolling back climate regulations.
