Trump taps North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for Interior Secretary

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday officially announced his selection of North Dakota GOP Gov. Doug Burgum to serve as secretary of the Interior and chairman of a new National Energy Council.

Trump had previously teased Burgum's appointment earlier in the week, but did not issue an official statement until Friday. The North Dakota governor ran for the Republican nomination in 2024 and was later a finalist for Trump's vice presidential pick, but lost out to Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio.

The new NEC "will consist of all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy," Trump said.

He further indicated that the council would be critical to his goal of American energy dominance and play a key role in enacting his foreign policy objectives.