Trump to Nominate Burgum to Lead Interior

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to Oversee Public Lands, Energy

Conservation, Energy, and Economic Development at Stake

President Donald Trump intends to nominate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to serve as the next Secretary of the Interior, according to multiple sources familiar with the decision. The nomination, which is expected to be announced officially in the coming days, would mark a significant departure from the department's traditional leadership.

Burgum, a Republican who has served as governor since 2016, has no experience in natural resources management or public lands policy. However, he has been a vocal supporter of the Trump administration's energy and economic development agenda, which has prioritized increased oil and gas drilling and mining on public lands.

If confirmed by the Senate, Burgum would oversee a vast portfolio that includes the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He would also be responsible for managing the nation's vast mineral resources, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

Burgum's nomination is likely to face significant opposition from environmental groups, who have criticized his record on conservation issues. In particular, they have pointed to his support for the Dakota Access Pipeline, which was built on land sacred to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.