President-elect Donald Trump has announced North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as his choice for Secretary of the Department of the Interior. Trump introduced the nomination during a speech at the America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-a-Lago, praising Burgum as an excellent fit for the role. A formal announcement is expected to follow.
Burgum, who has been governor since 2016, is known for his focus on data-driven governance and domestic energy production. He ran a brief campaign for the Republican presidential nomination before endorsing Trump and has been a prominent advocate for increasing energy output and addressing competition from China.
As Secretary of the Interior, Burgum will oversee 640 million acres of federal land and lead efforts to develop energy resources on public lands and waters. The department, which employs 70,000 people, plays a critical role in managing both conventional and renewable energy supplies.
Trump has vowed to cut energy costs by 50% during his first year in office through policies aimed at bolstering domestic energy production, including opening up public lands for drilling and mining. Burgum is expected to be central to implementing these goals, which include “Drill, baby, drill” initiatives and reducing regulatory constraints on the energy sector.