Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota speaks to reporters at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia in advance of the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Sept. 10, 2024. President-elect Trump has tapped Burgum to lead the Interior Department, leading the new administration’s plans to open federal lands and waters to oil and gas drilling. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota speaks to reporters at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia in advance of the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Sept. 10, 2024. President-elect Trump has tapped Burgum to lead the Interior Department, leading the new administration’s plans to open federal lands and waters to oil and gas drilling. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

Trump nominates governor of North Dakota — not Alaska — to be Interior Secretary

Doug Burgum gets nod from president-elect, leaving speculation about Dunleavy’s future hanging

This is a developing story.

A governor from a sparsely populated and oil-rich state has been nominated to be the next U.S. Department of the Interior secretary, but it’s North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum getting the nod rather than Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy who was rumored as a possible choice.

President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination of Burgum on Thursday night during a gala at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The Interior secretary oversees management of federal lands, including national parks and monuments, and natural resource development on public lands.

Burgum, 68, has long-standing ties to fossil fuel companies and acted as a liaison between the Trump campaign and the oil executives who have donated heavily to it, the New York Times reported Thursday evening.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Dunleavy had discussed the Interior post with members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, the political news website NOTUS reported Monday evening. Media reports earlier this week stated U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma was also a candidate.

The Alaska governor further ramped up speculation on Tuesday night with social media posts stating he and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom would be making a joint announcement. He posted a second message a couple of hours later declaring there would be no announcement after all.

However, on the same evening Dunleavy also posted a message X (formerly known as Twitter) that referenced Trump’s desire to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education — which Trump still hasn’t nominated a secretary for.

“I support the concept of eliminating the US Department of Education,” Dunleavy wrote. “By doing so it would restore local control of education back to the states, reduce bureaucratic inefficiency and reduce cost. Long overdue.”

Media reports have also stated Dunleavy is a possible nominee for the U.S. Department of Energy, which in addition to energy policy has oversight of the country’s nuclear weapons program.

Dunleavy, in a social media message Thursday night, praised Burgum as “a fantastic pick for Secretary of the Interior.”

“Doug’s experience as Governor of North Dakota and in the private sector will be invaluable in pushing the President’s agenda regarding more oil, gas, coal and critical minerals and rare earths,” Dunleavy wrote. “Alaska stands to benefit greatly with Doug at the helm of the Department of Interior.”

Burgum would be the 55th interior secretary, replacing Deb Haaland who has held the post since March of 2021.

Among those criticizing the choice was the Center for Western Priorities, a Denver-based conservation group, which on Friday declared “Doug Burgum comes from an oil state, but North Dakota is not a public lands state. His cozy relationship with oil billionaires may endear him to Donald Trump, but he has no experience that qualifies him to oversee the management of 20 percent of America’s lands.”

“Running the Interior department requires someone who can find balance between recreation, conservation, hunting, ranching, mining, and — yes — oil drilling,” Executive Director Jennifer Rokala said in a prepared statement. “If Doug Burgum tries to turn America’s public lands into an even bigger cash cow for the oil and gas industry, or tries to shrink America’s parks and national monuments, he’ll quickly discover he’s on the wrong side of history.”

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Elon Musk on stage with a chainsaw gifted to him by President Javier Milei of Argentina, left, during the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center in National Harbor, Md., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. (Eric Lee/The New York Times)
Musk to all federal workers: Explain accomplishments during past week by Monday or lose your job

Some agency leaders tell employees to hold off on responding as further guidance is sought.

Jude Humphrey, a Student Conservation Association intern for the U.S. Forest Service, reads a story about snowflakes to kids during a Mendenhall Minis event at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Saturday morning. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Firing on: Remaining Forest Service staff fill in to keep Mendenhall Glacier activities flowing

As visitor center continues lectures and kids’ events, fired employees get a show of community support.

The University of Alaska Southeast class of 2024 receives their degrees during a commencement ceremony Sunday, May 5, 2024, at the UAS Recreation Center. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
University of Alaska removing DEI references from all print and online materials

UAS chancellor says deletions are to comply with Board of Regents’ directive issued Friday afternoon.

A bike is parked outside the main entrance of Bartlett Regional Hospital on Thursday, July 27, 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
About 100,000 Alaskans could lose health insurance under GOP plan backed by Trump, hospital officials say

Cut affecting Medicaid could also be costly to state and other policyholders, letter to delegation asserts.

Tetyana Robbins, executive director of Project Alaska, embraces Deepika Ramesh Perumal, executive director of the Alaska Literacy Project, after a House Judiciary Committee meeting at the Alaska State Capitol Building on Feb. 19, 2025. The presentation to the Alaska Legislature was one of many in Juneau this week by immigration leaders in the state. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Immigrants and refugees in Alaska feel uncertainty under Trump administration

Policy changes spur preparation outreach from immigration advocates.

U.S. Rep. Nick Begich III, R-Alaska, address the Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Begich supports Trump’s federal cutbacks, but ‘I recognize the process won’t be perfect’

Congressman says cutting most Mendenhall Glacier staff may have been hasty; also wants faster flood fix.

Police calls for Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read