Trump's Pick To Oversee Us Public Lands Faces Senate Hearing

Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is due before a Senate committee Thursday as lawmakers consider the Republican's nomination to be chief steward of U.S. public lands and waters.

President-elect Donald Trump in November tapped Burgum to be interior secretary and to lead the new National Energy Council , which is charged with promoting oil, gas and other energy development.

The Interior Department oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore. Combined those areas produce about one-quarter of U.S. oil, or more than 1 billion barrels of crude annually, making them a flashpoint in the debate over how to address climate change.

President Joe Biden's administration scaled back new oil and gas sales from public reserves as part of its efforts to curb climate change. Nevertheless, oil production hit record levels under the Democrat as high prices spurred drilling on lands that were previously leased.

Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family's farm. The two-term governor of oil-rich North Dakota endorsed Trump after ending his own 2024 presidential bid.