Senate set for confirmation vote on Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior

The Senate is acceptable for a Thursday confirmation ballot for President Donald Trump’s prime to pb the Interior Department, erstwhile North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. 

The precocious enclosure voted to beforehand Burgum’s information to a confirmation ballot connected Wednesday by a 78–20 margin. 

Burgum appeared earlier the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee successful mid-January, wherever helium told lawmakers that nationalist information issues and the system were his apical 2 priorities for starring the agency. 

BURGUM GRILLED ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TARGETED BY TRUMP DURING CONFIRMATION HEARING: ‘DRILL, BABY, DRILL’

"When vigor accumulation is restricted successful America, it doesn't trim demand," Burgum said successful his opening connection Jan. 16. "It conscionable shifts accumulation to countries similar Russia and Iran, whose autocratic leaders not lone don't attraction astatine each astir the environment, but they usage their revenues from vigor income to money wars against america and our allies."

Lawmakers, including Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, questioned Burgum connected whether helium would question to drill for lipid successful nationalist parks if Trump asked him to.

"As portion of my sworn duty, I'll travel the instrumentality and travel the Constitution. And truthful you tin number connected that," Burgum said. "And I person not heard of thing astir President Trump wanting to bash thing different than advancing vigor accumulation for the payment of the American people."

ZELDIN GRILLED BY DEMOCRATS ON CLIMATE CHANGE, TRUMP'S STANCE ON CARBON EMISSIONS DURING EPA HEARING 

Burgum served arsenic politician of North Dakota from 2016 to 2024. He besides launched a statesmanlike bid for the 2024 predetermination successful June 2023, wherever vigor and earthy resources served arsenic cardinal issues during his campaign.

Burgum appeared during the archetypal 2 Republican statesmanlike debates, but didn’t suffice for the 3rd and ended his run successful December 2023. He past endorsed Trump for the GOP information a period aboriginal up of the Iowa caucuses.

Aubrie Spady, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.