Doug Burgum Confirmed as Interior Secretary in Overwhelming Senate Vote

The former North Dakota governor will oversee public lands and energy policy, emphasizing resource development and national security.

Doug Burgum was confirmed as the 55th Secretary of the Interior by a 79-18 Senate vote, succeeding Deb Haaland from the Biden administration.
Burgum has pledged to prioritize energy production, including fossil fuels, as a cornerstone of U.S. economic growth and national security.
He plans to review federal land use policies, emphasizing multiple uses such as energy development, grazing, and recreation, while balancing conservation efforts.
Burgum has expressed concerns over the Antiquities Act, advocating for local consultation and a more restrained approach to national monument designations.
Environmental groups and critics worry his leadership will favor extractive industries over conservation, potentially impacting protected lands and wildlife.