Burgum confirmed to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior
On Jan. 30, former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was sworn in as the 55th secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI).
On his first day in office, President Donald J. Trump underscored a commitment to leveraging America’s abundant and reliable energy resources located on federal lands, with the objective of enhancing domestic energy production.
In alignment with this commitment, Burgum will oversee the management of 500 million acres of public lands and 1.7 billion acres offshore, thereby furthering the administration’s initiative to promote energy production across the U.S.
“We look forward to delivering on Trump’s vision for energy dominance, which is the foundation of American prosperity, affordability for American families, unrivaled national security and world peace,” Burgum states during his confirmation.
The Senate confirmed Burgum as secretary of the DOI following a decisive vote of 79 to 18.
In this esteemed position, he will be responsible for overseeing several key agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education.
Before his confirmation, Burgum garnered substantial support from the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which voted 18 to two in favor of his appointment on Jan. 23.
Moving forward
Burgum successfully navigated his confirmation hearing, encountering minimal criticism while expressing his commitment to enhancing oil and natural gas production on public lands in pursuit of achieving “energy dominance.”
“He’s going to help our country become extremely liquid and extremely wealthy again,” Trump mentions of Burgum in a recent press release.
During Burgum’s confirmation hearing, the former governor signaled support for those priorities, saying, “We live in a time of tremendous abundance, and we can access this abundance by prioritizing innovation over regulation.”
Burgum indicates his foremost priority as secretary will be to “turn the ship around” and intends to implement changes to reverse the drilling policies established by the Biden administration.
“Under the Biden administration, the DOI was the tip of the spear in restricting development of America’s resources,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) states on the Senate floor during Burgum’s hearing. “I’m pleased Burgum is committed to restoring the multiple-use approach to managing public lands.”
As secretary of the DOI, Burgum will be responsible for formulating policies guiding 11 agencies and 14 offices, including the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
Additionally, he will oversee the permitting process for clean energy projects on federal lands and waters.
“The thing we’re short of most right now is base load. We need more energy but there has to be balance,” he says.
Burgum emphasizes the most efficient and cost-effective method to enhance base-load electricity supply would be to remove the restrictions on fossil fuel development imposed by the Biden administration on public lands and offshore areas.
First round of orders
On Feb. 3, the DOI announced Burgum officially commenced his tenure, marking the beginning of a new era aimed at promoting American energy independence while ensuring the responsible management of the nation’s public lands and resources.
On his first day in office, Burgum engaged with department leadership to articulate his key priorities.
He initiated immediate measures to streamline processes, thereby enhancing both efficiency and innovation throughout the DOI.
Furthermore, he took significant steps to advance the administration’s agenda by signing six secretary’s orders, which are designed to promote energy dominance in the U.S.
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the DOI,” says Burgum. “We are committed to working collaboratively to unlock America’s full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of America’s natural resources and innovation.”
“Together, we will ensure our policies reflect the needs of our communities, respect Tribal sovereignty and drive innovation which will keep the U.S. at the forefront of energy and environmental leadership,” he continues.
Burgum’s initial significant action was the signing of Secretary’s Order 3417, titled “Addressing the National Energy Emergency.”
This order is designed to respond to the national emergency declaration from Trump by focusing on the essential need for a reliable, diversified, affordable and expanding supply of energy.
“The DOI will promptly initiate efforts to alleviate the nation’s energy supply challenges while also safeguarding against potential threats to both national and economic security,” Burgum announces.
Furthermore, Burgum executed Secretary’s Order 3418, which aims to advance energy initiatives.
He has also initiated Secretary’s Order 3419, which initiates a thorough review of all programs and regulations contributing to elevated living costs for hardworking American families.
This review aims to identify and recommend actionable strategies for effectively reducing costs, as the DOI focuses on the elimination of detrimental and coercive climate policies while working to lower energy expenses.
He adds, “These initiatives are designed to enhance the purchasing power of everyday Americans and ultimately improve their overall quality of life.”
Burgum has taken significant steps by signing Secretary Order 3420, which mandates immediate adherence to Trump’s revocation of the Biden administration’s previous withdrawals of the Outer Continental Shelf from oil and gas leasing.
Furthermore, he implemented Secretary Order 3421, titled “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.”
This initiative is designed to eliminate unnecessary regulations, strengthen national security and enhance the overall quality of life for citizens in the U.S.
This directive establishes, for each new regulation implemented, 10 existing regulations will be repealed.
This approach aims to streamline processes, reduce bureaucratic redundancy among various agencies and promote the enhancement of domestic energy production.
In concluding his initial directives, Burgum signed Secretary Order 3422, which mandates the department to implement all necessary actions to responsibly harness the abundant and largely untapped natural resources of the state of Alaska.
As the DOI moves forward under Burgum’s leadership, these initiatives set the foundation for a renewed focus on responsible resource management, economic growth and cultural preservation.
“By advancing policies honoring America’s heritage while fostering innovation and sustainability, the department remains committed to serving the interests of the American people and strengthening the nation’s environmental and energy future,” states the DOI.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
