On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Doug Burgum as the Secretary of the Interior, appointing the former governor of North Dakota to oversee the management of public lands and to support President Donald Trump’s strategy to enhance oil and natural gas production.

Burgum, who is 68 years old and previously served as CEO of a software company, received confirmation with a vote tally of 79 to 18.

“People across this nation have shown their trust in President Trump’s quest for energy independence,” Burgum stated during his confirmation hearing earlier this month. “Energy independence lays the groundwork for American prosperity, family affordability, and unparalleled national security.”

Having served as North Dakota’s governor for two terms until December, Burgum led a state known for its significant oil production and has been a strong proponent of increasing oil and gas activities. Additionally, President Trump has appointed him to head a newly established National Energy Council.

During his confirmation hearing on January 16, Burgum expressed a desire to reduce regulations related to energy development. When asked about climate change, he acknowledged, “I definitely believe that climate change is a global issue.”

While Burgum emphasized his commitment to land conservation and environmental initiatives, some Democratic senators expressed worries that the new administration’s energy policies might exacerbate climate change by raising greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.

“Donald Trump appointed Doug Burgum as his Secretary of the Interior because of his close ties to the oil and gas sector, which made significant contributions to the Trump campaign,” stated Tony Carrk, executive director of Accountable.US, a nonpartisan organization that scrutinizes the connections between government and private interests, prior to Thursday’s vote.

Originally from the small town of Arthur, North Dakota, Burgum earned his MBA from Stanford and began his career as a management consultant. In 1983, he invested $250,000 into Great Plains Software, leveraging 160 acres of inherited farmland. Microsoft acquired the company in 2001 for $1.1 billion in stock, leading to Burgum taking on the role of senior vice president at Microsoft.

“I essentially risked everything on that tiny software venture,” Burgum recounted to the senators.

Elected as North Dakota’s governor in 2016 and reelected in 2020, Burgum briefly ran for president against Trump but withdrew in December 2023 before any GOP primary votes were cast. He later endorsed Trump and became a prominent supporter.

Trump developed a strong rapport with Burgum and considered him as a potential running mate before ultimately choosing Vice President J.D. Vance.

The Interior Department oversees federal lands, which comprise around 20% of all U.S. territory. The department manages access to “over 500 million acres of public land, 700 million acres of subsurface minerals, and 1.7 billion acres of the Outer Continental Shelf,” as stated on its official website.

The department is also responsible for the national park system, managing relationships with Native American tribes, water resources in 17 western states, historical preservation programs, and wildlife conservation efforts.

Joey Garrison contributed to this report