PALM BEACH, Florida, Nov 14 (Reuters) — President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum will be his pick for Secretary of the Interior. Speaking at a gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump confirmed that Burgum, a 68-year-old former software company executive, would lead the department, calling the appointment “fantastic.”
Burgum, a traditional business-minded conservative, previously ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 before withdrawing and becoming a staunch Trump supporter. He appeared frequently at fundraisers, advocating for the president on television. Trump made his announcement at a star-studded event that included tech billionaire Elon Musk, actor Sylvester Stallone, and several members of his incoming administration. He also teased Musk about his extended stay at Mar-a-Lago, joking that he couldn’t “get him out of here.”
In his remarks at the gala, Trump praised his cabinet choices and offered a rare extended speech since his election victory. “Nobody knew we were going to win it the way we won it,” he said. Musk, who has played an advisory role in some of Trump’s meetings, later took the stage, declaring, “The public has given us a mandate that could not be more clear. The people have spoken, the people want change.”
Burgum’s nomination as Interior Secretary comes as Trump prepares to reshape key federal agencies. The Department of the Interior oversees policies related to the management of federal and tribal lands, encompassing about 500 million acres, or roughly a fifth of the nation’s surface area. Under the Biden administration, the department has played a central role in the climate change agenda, with increased support for offshore wind and solar projects and conservation leasing programs. In contrast, Burgum is expected to prioritize expanding oil, gas, and mineral production on federal lands and waters, a move that could involve ramping up leasing in oil-rich regions like the Gulf of Mexico, Wyoming, and New Mexico.
While President Biden had pledged to halt new federal oil leasing, his administration faced legal setbacks, leaving the policy in limbo. Under Burgum’s leadership, the Interior Department could revisit and potentially scrap Biden’s five-year offshore drilling plan, which scheduled fewer auctions than previous administrations. Drilling on federal lands and waters accounts for about a quarter of U.S. oil production and 12% of natural gas production.
The selection of Burgum, whose background is rooted in the private sector, signals Trump’s continued focus on energy expansion and industry-friendly policies. His decision is in line with broader efforts to test and, in some cases, challenge the institutions that shape U.S. governance.
