Doug Burgum, Pam Bondi testify to attending confirmation hearings

On By Littum

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a confirmation hearing at 10 a.m. next Wednesday, with Doug Burgum set to serve as interior secretary.

Burgum, the former North Dakota governor and presidential candidate, has received a heated response from Senate Republicans, particularly over his push to increase U.S. energy production.

While his energy positions may clash with positions expressed by Democrats, he is widely viewed as an uncontroversial choice and may draw some Democratic support; the top Democrat on the committee, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, put out a positive statement after a meeting with Burgum that highlighted areas of possible bipartisan cooperation on public lands.

As interior secretary, Burgum would play a key role in pushing Trump’s agenda to increase oil, gas and coal production on public lands and have broad authority over oil and gas drilling leases.

Burgum’s hearing, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed this week over delayed paperwork. Heinrich, along with other Democrats on the committee, urged Chairman Mike Lee, R-Utah, to delay the hearing until the standard documents were made available for review.