Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday evening to serve as the next Department of the Interior secretary.
His confirmation passed in a 79-18 vote in the Senate chamber.
Burgum ran in the 2024 Republican primary, dropping out of the race ahead of Iowa’s caucuses.
He endorsed Trump, saying at the time, “Four years ago I was speaking on behalf of President Trump at the Iowa caucuses in Sioux City, and today I am here to do something that none of the presidential primary candidates have done. And that is endorse Donald J. Trump for the President of the United States of America.”
Trump nominated Burgum for the role in November, writing at the time, “I am thrilled to announce that Doug Burgum, the Governor of North Dakota, will be joining my Administration as both Secretary of the Interior and, as Chairman of the newly formed, and very important, National Energy Council, which will consist of all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy.”
I’m deeply grateful to President @RealDonaldTrump for this amazing opportunity to serve the American people and achieve ENERGY DOMINANCE! pic.twitter.com/iR8x54IZpK
— Doug Burgum (@DougBurgum) November 15, 2024
