Burgum has also made a bipartisan case for permitting reform, including at an event with the American Petroleum Institute (API), where he explained that “at the highest levels [the Trump administration is] looking at a couple metrics. On critical minerals, policymakers look at the periodic table and ask ‘how fast can we get secure on those supply chains?’” On artificial intelligence, Burgum’s view is simple: “We need more gigawatts.”
The Interior Department under Burgum has also pivoted away from green energy sources once prioritized by the Biden administration. In June, it “remove[d] regulations that are inconsistent with the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, restore the original intent of the Act for the management of the area, and eliminate roadblocks to responsible energy production.”
Additionally, the department pushed for what Burgum’s fellow North Dakotan, Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R.) compared to the “Super Bowl” for coal, partnering with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to open up 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal leasing, which triples the benchmarks set by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“This is as critical as any Manhattan Project we’ve ever worked on,” Burgum said of the efforts, which he explained will focus on “innovation, not regulation,” the importance of critical minerals, the need to increase ship-building at home, and why it is important to “drill baby drill,” “mine baby mine,” and “map baby map.”
Finally, while the Interior Department plays less of an integral role in border security than other departments, it helped the Trump administration honor the victim of an illegal immigrant by renaming the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, commemorating the life of a 12-year-old girl murdered by illegal immigrants.
“Jocelyn Nungaray’s story has left an indelible mark on the hearts of Americans,” Burgum said at the time. “Her life was taken far too soon by illegal immigrants who should have never been in our country. President Trump’s dedication ensures her name will always be remembered. This refuge, where life flourishes, will stand as a lasting tribute to her memory, a place of reflection, and a call to action to protect our children and uphold justice.”