PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump has officially announced that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will head the Department of Interior and a new, "very important" energy oversight group.
The formal announcement came Friday, Nov. 15, on Trump’s social media platform, Truth. If approved as Interior secretary, Burgum will oversee government agencies that manage public lands, wildlife, national parks and Indian affairs, among other things.
The governor would be the first North Dakotan to be appointed to a Cabinet-level post since 2008, when former Gov. Ed Schafer was named the secretary of Agriculture by then-President George W. Bush.
“As secretary of the Interior, Doug will be a key leader in ushering in a new ‘golden age of American prosperity’ and world peace,” Trump said Friday afternoon in a statement.
In a statement to media, Burgum said the nomination was "an incredible honor and an enormous responsibility."
“Serving as Interior secretary is an opportunity to redefine and improve upon the federal government’s relationship with tribal nations, landowners, mineral developers, outdoor enthusiasts and others, with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people," Burgum said.
Trump also said he would create the National Energy Council, which Burgum will chair. The council will oversee all agencies involved with American energy, Trump said.
“This council will oversee the path to U.S. energy dominance by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the economy and by focusing on innovation over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation,” Trump said in the statement. “With U.S. energy dominance, we will drive down inflation, win the A.I. arms race with China and others, and expand American diplomatic power to end all wars across the world.”
National Energy Council chair is not a Cabinet position, but it would give Burgum a seat on the National Security Council, according to a release from Trump's office.
“The National Energy Council will foster an unprecedented level of coordination among federal agencies to advance American energy," Burgum said in his statement. "By establishing U.S. energy dominance, we can jump start our economy, drive down costs for consumers and generate billions in revenue to help reduce our deficit."
Burgum, a 68-year-old from Arthur, North Dakota, has served as North Dakota’s governor since 2016. The Republican ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign before endorsing Trump.
The governor attended multiple rallies and events to support Trump as the former president sought to regain office. Trump, a Republican, was elected president in 2016 but lost to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.
Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
Trump previously said he wanted Burgum to be a “very important piece of his administration,” fueling speculation on what post he had in mind for the governor. Burgum was considered a top contender for vice president, but Trump ultimately chose U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio.
Burgum’s name was mentioned by political pundits for several secretary positions. Others suggested Trump would create a new position for Burgum.
In his Friday statement, Trump promised to "preserve and protect our most beautiful places," reduce U.S. deficits and debts, expand all forms of energy production, grow the economy and “drill baby drill.”
“Doug Burgum will protect our nation’s natural resources, restore our fabulous oil and gas advantage, and make America, and its energy, dominant and great again,” Trump said.
Typically, Burgum’s position would need a majority approval by the Senate. Trump has floated the idea of recessing the Senate so he can approve his cabinet appointments.
If Burgum gets the final nod, he will succeed Deb Haaland.
Burgum's last day as governor is Dec. 14. U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, a Republican who won the North Dakota gubernatorial race, will be sworn in as Burgum's successor the next day.
“The governor’s background in energy and his efforts to support our national parks and tribal relations will make him an incredible asset to the Trump Administration,” Armstrong said in a tweet.
U.S. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said Interior secretary is a perfect fit for Burgum. Cramer also said he advised Trump to create a new position for Burgum so the governor could be involved in multiple areas of policy.
“I think what the president has come up with is just about perfect,” Cramer told The Forum on Friday. “I just think it is a brilliant stroke.”
Burgum is well-qualified for the position, North Dakota House Minority Leader Zac Ista said.
“I am particularly optimistic that he will be a good partner in government-to-government relations with Tribal Nations,” the Democrat from Grand Forks said in a statement to The Forum. “But I also encourage him to be a check on the president-elect’s worst impulses and to remember it is never too late to change course if the president-elect acts in the dangerous ways so many of us fear he will.”
North Dakota Democratic-NPL Executive Director Cheryl Biller had harsher words for Burgum, noting several of Trump’s picks that some consider controversial.
Biller referenced the U.S. House Ethics Committee investigation into sexual misconduct and illegal drug use claims against Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida. Gaetz resigned Wednesday, the same day Trump picked him to be his attorney general, and two days before the committee was set to meet.
“After a year of campaigning with Trump to get a secretary of State or Energy posting, we hope Burgum feels his bootlicking was worth it,” Biller said. “He wanted to be part of this clown show, and he got it.”
Burgum let the North Dakota Game and Fish Department be led by science, North Dakota Wildlife Federation Executive Director John Bradley told The Forum.
“He trusted the experts at that agency during his time as governor to make the best decisions for wildlife and for sportsmen,” Bradley said. “I think that is a real opportunity for him. If he can continue to do that as secretary of the Interior, we'll be in better shape.”
Bradley’s organization is a nonprofit that supports wildlife conservation and recreation.
The Center for Western Priorities, a conservation group based in Denver, claimed Burgum had a “cozy relationship with oil billionaires.” North Dakota is the third top oil-producing state in the U.S.
“Running the Interior department requires someone who can find balance between recreation, conservation, hunting, ranching, mining and, yes, oil drilling,” Center Executive Director Jennifer Rokala said in a statement. “If Doug Burgum tries to turn America’s public lands into an even bigger cash cow for the oil and gas industry, or tries to shrink America’s parks and national monuments, he’ll quickly discover he’s on the wrong side of history.”
Burgum promotes energy, but he also understands the importance of grazing, wildlife and outdoor recreation, Bradley said. He noted concerns about Burgum’s business-based inclination to promote efficiency, which can lead to staffing cuts.
“We would hate to see those people who have dedicated a career and our experts in their fields to be lost at the federal government,” he said. “I’m hoping, based off his track record as the North Dakota governor, that is unfounded.”
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