The Senate confirmed Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior late Thursday with a 79-18 vote, securing President Trump’s goal of boosting domestic fossil fuel production. A billionaire entrepreneur and former governor of North Dakota, Burgum’s background in the oil and gas industry aligns with Trump’s directive to simplify access to fossil fuel resources on public lands. Burgum, 68, is also tasked with leading the newly created National Energy Council and will sit on the National Security Council,
making him the first Interior Secretary to do so. Trump’s focus is to expand U.S. energy dominance. Burgum’s confirmation adds to a growing list of Cabinet appointees, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Meanwhile, opposition from a group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence seeks to block RFK Jr.’s nomination as Health and Human Services Secretary over his stance on abortion.
