Trump appoints Interior candidate Doug Burgum to head the new White House Energy Council

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, will also lead a newly created National Energy Council that will try to help U.S. energy dominance” around the world.

In his new role, Burgum will oversee a panel made up of all executive agencies involved in energy licensing, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation, Trump said in a statement. As chairman of the National Energy Council, Burgum will have a seat on the National Security Council, Trump said.

“This Council will oversee the path to America’s energy dominance by cutting red tape, increasing private sector investment across all sectors of the economy, and focusing on INNOVATION rather than longstanding, but totally unnecessary regulation,” Trump wrote. His new policies will help reduce inflation, win an “arms race” with China over artificial intelligence and even expand U.S. diplomatic influence around the world, Trump claimed without explanation.

He accused the “radical left” of waging a war on American energy in the name of fighting climate change. His policy of energy dominance, which he also embraced during his first term, will allow the US to sell oil, gas and other forms of energy to European allies, making the world a safer place, Trump said.

Trump has called oil and natural gas, along with minerals such as lithium and copper, “liquid gold” that should be exploited as much as possible.

FILE – Gov. Doug Burgum, R-ND., speaks during the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/J. Scott Applewhite

We will expand “DRILL BABY DRILL” ALL forms of energy production to grow our economy and create good-paying jobs,” Trump said.

Burgum, 67, was elected governor of North Dakota in 2016, his first campaign for elected office. A former software executive, he led Great Plains Software, which Microsoft acquired for $1.1 billion in 2001. Burgum has also led other real estate development and venture capital companies.

Burgum has adopted a pro-business style as governor of a state where agriculture and oil are the main industries. He is pushed income tax cuts, reduced regulations and changes in livestock farming laws the administration of higher education. Burgum also emphasized a “data-driven” approach to governing, advocating for one Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in the state and prioritized engagement with tribal nations.

He ran for president in 2023, but fell out after his offer failed to gain traction. He later supported Trump.

Earlier Friday, Trump announced that Steven Cheung will serve as White House communications director and Sergio Gor will lead the human resources office. Both have been advisers to the president-elect since his 2016 campaign.

Cheung led communications for Trump’s last campaign, where he earned a reputation for combative and insulting attacks on Republican opponents. A native of Sacramento, California, he worked in Republican politics and for the Ultimate Fighting Championship before joining Trump’s team in 2016.

Gor led Winning Team Publishing, which he co-founded with Donald Trump Jr. founded. The company has published books by Trump and his allies. Gor also led the super PAC Right for America.

The Presidential Personnel Office will likely be a focal point in Trump’s efforts to staff his administration with loyalists. Trump described Cheung and Gor as trusted advisors in a statement, adding that he was “thrilled that they would be joining my White House.”