President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to nominate North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as his pick for Secretary of the Interior. Trump made the announcement during an event at Mar-a-Lago, teasing the appointment before confirming Burgum’s role during his remarks. The following day, an official statement was released detailing Burgum’s additional responsibilities as chair of the National Energy Council. The governor praised the creation of the council, stating that it will promote coordination among federal agencies to strengthen American energy and boost the economy.
Burgum, who has a background in business and technology, sold a software company to Microsoft for $1.1 billion in stock before becoming involved in real estate and venture capital. He was elected as governor of North Dakota in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Despite term limits being implemented in 2022, Burgum was not affected and chose not to run for a third term in 2024. He also previously ran for president, before dropping out of the race in 2023.
Burgum’s nomination for Secretary of the Interior comes after his support for Trump during his campaign, where he was considered for a running mate before JD Vance was chosen. With a focus on energy and economic issues, Burgum’s appointment is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the Department of the Interior.
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