Rudolph Angler President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to lead the Department of the Interior. Trump made the announcement at a gala hosted by the America First Policy Institute at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thursday, saying Burgum would do an “incredible” job heading the department. A formal announcement was planned for the following day.
Burgum, 68, has served as governor since 2016, and will not seek a third term in 2024. Known for his data-driven, business-oriented approach, Burgum previously ran for president, dropping out after a short-lived campaign and endorsing Trump. During his presidential run, he focused on boosting domestic energy production and addressing the threat of China.
Before entering politics, Burgum was CEO of the tech company Great Plains Software, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2001. He stayed on at Microsoft until 2007 as a senior vice president.
As Interior Secretary, Burgum will oversee the management of over 640 million acres of federal land and direct the department’s 70,000 employees. He will play a significant role in executing Trump’s goal of slashing energy costs by 50%, a plan that includes ramping up drilling and mining on public lands. Trump’s team has already prepared executive orders to open up western lands for development, and an “energy czar” will be appointed to streamline energy production and reduce regulations.
Trump also hinted that another major announcement regarding his cabinet would be made soon.