The Senate confirmed Doug Burgum as Interior secretary on Thursday, making the former North Dakota governor the nation’s point person for public land management and President Donald Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” agenda to expand oil and natural gas development.
Burgum, a 68-year old former software company CEO, was confirmed by a vote of 79-18.
“The American people have clearly placed their confidence in President Trump to achieve energy dominance,” Burgum said during his confirmation hearing earlier this month. “And by energy dominance, that’s the foundation of American prosperity, affordability for American families and unrivaled national security.”
As the two-term governor of North Dakota until mid-December, Burgum presided over a state that ranks among the nation’s highest in oil production. He has been an outspoken advocate for boosting oil and gas. Trump has also tapped Burgum to lead a newly-created National Energy Council.
Burgum said during his Jan. 16 confirmation hearing that he wants to cut regulations around energy development. Asked if climate change is a problem, he replied, “I believe that climate change is a global phenomenon, for sure.”
Burgum said he’s committed to land conservation and environmental protection, but some Democrats raised concerns that the new Republican administration’s approach to energy could worsen climate change by increasing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.
“Donald Trump chose Doug Burgum to be his Interior Security precisely because he’s so cozy with the oil and gas industry that made record high donations to the Trump campaign,” said Tony Carrk, executive director of Accountable.US, a watchdog organization that focuses on the relationship between government and special interests, in a statement ahead of the vote Thursday.
A native of tiny Arthur, North Dakota, Burgum graduated from Stanford business school and worked as a management consultant before investing $250,000 in Great Plains Software in 1983, mortgaging 160 acres of farmland he inherited. Microsoft purchased the company in 2001 for $1.1 billion in stock, and Burgum became Microsoft’s senior vice president.
“I literally bet the farm on that tiny software startup,” Burgum told senators.
Burgum was elected governor of North Dakota in 2016 and reelected in 2020. He ran for president against Trump, but dropped out in December 2023 before any votes were cast in the GOP primary, endorsed Trump and became a top surrogate for him.
Trump bonded with Burgum and considered picking him as a running mate before ultimately selecting Vice President J.D. Vance.