Billionaire Oil Ally Doug Burgum Confirmed As Trump’s Interior Chief

The former North Dakota governor will play a key role in carrying out President Donald Trump’s pro-fossil-fuel, anti-renewable-energy vision.

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as President Donald Trump’s secretary of the Interior Department.

At the helm of the massive federal agency, Burgum will be responsible for managing 500 million acres of federal land ― roughly one-fifth of the United States — including 63 national parks, as well as conserving imperiled species and honoring the government’s trust responsibilities for more than 500 federally recognized tribes.

Twenty-five Democrats joined all 53 Republicans in voting to confirm Burgum as the nation’s 55th secretary of the Interior Department. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) abstained from voting.

The billionaire software entrepreneur and two-term governor pledged during his Senate confirmation hearing to aggressively advance President Donald Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda via increased drilling on federal lands and to prioritize industry innovation over regulation. And he argued Trump’s energy vision has the ability to end foreign wars and drive down inflation, while protecting clean air and water.

“The American people have clearly placed their confidence in President Trump to achieve energy dominance,” Burgum said. “That’s the foundation of American prosperity, affordability for American families and unrivaled national security.”