The Senate confirmed former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum in a bipartisan fashion to lead President Donald Trump’s Department of Interior Thursday evening.
Senators overwhelmingly approved Burgum’s nomination 79 to 18. Three senators did not vote.
Senate Republicans enthusiastically endorsed Burgum’s nomination, citing his commitment to reverse course on the efforts of his predecessor, former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, to restrict energy resources, which included blocking oil and gas leasing in development in Alaska.
“Governor Burgum knows that America’s natural resources are our greatest national asset,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Wednesday on the Senate floor prior to Burgum’s confirmation vote. “Too often, under the Biden administration, the Interior Department was the tip of the spear in restricting development of America’s resources.”
