The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota, as President Donald Trump's interior secretary. The vote was 79 to 18. Burgum, 68, will lead an agency that guides the use of 500 million acres (202 million hectares) of federal and tribal land,

Many of the oil and gas companies Burgum developed a rapport with are certain to want things from him following his Senate confirmation to the post.

The former governor of North Dakota is promoting President Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda and wants more oil, gas and mining on public lands.

The North Dakota governor will oversee agencies that administer policy on Native American affairs, national parks and energy leases.

The U.S. Senate confirmed former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the U.S. Department of Interior under President Donald Trump.

Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become Interior Secretary in the second Trump Administration. The Republican was confirmed by a vote of 79-18. Burgum served as governor of North Dakota from 2016 to 2024.

The Senate confirmed Doug Burgum as interior secretary late Thursday after President Donald Trump tapped the North Dakota billionaire to spearhead the Republican administration’s ambitions to boost fossil fuel production. The vote was 79-18. More than half of Senate Democrats joined all 53 Republicans in voting for Burgum.

Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum previously told lawmakers that national security and the economy are his top priorities for leading the Interior Department.