How Will Governor Doug Burgum Help Make American Energy Great Again?

WASHINGTON DC (1/13/25) – North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum will appear before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee tomorrow to consider his nomination for Secretary of the Department of the Interior. Given the critical role this position will have as part of President Trump’s energy team, and in shaping U.S. energy policy, we have prepared some suggested questions for his nomination hearing.

1. The Biden-Harris administration was much more extreme than even the Obama administration in trying to kill domestic oil and gas production on federal lands. In FY 2023, the Biden-Harris administration issued 93% fewer leases than the Obama administration issued in FY 2009. Will you commit to leasing onshore oil and gas tracts at a level that meets or exceeds the average set during President Bush’s administration?   
2. In 2024, global coal use hit an all-time high. The United States has the largest proven coal reserves in the world. Given this continuing global demand, will you commit to continue coal leasing to help the world meet its steel and energy needs?  
3. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) requires that BLM manage lands to maximize “multiple use” and “sustained yield.” Despite this requirement, currently only 3.3% of lands onshore are leased for oil and gas production and 0.5% of the OCS is leased. Is leasing only 1.2% of the federal estate consistent with multiple use under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act? (Onshore: 3.3% of federal lands leased: 23.2 million acres leased of 700 million acres. Offshore: 0.5% of OCS leased for oil and gas production. As of 2021, 12.1 million acres were leased and, according to the Biden administration, the OCS is 2.3 billion acres).
4. In yet another effort to shut down oil and gas production on federal lands, the Biden administration made it substantially more expensive to operate, increasing royalty rates and disproportionately hurting America’s smaller, independently owned companies (those who employ an average of 15 people). Will you commit to jettisoning the Biden royalty rate increases as a way to encourage more American energy production and make it possible for small and start-up businesses to participate once again?
5. It has recently come to light that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was deliberately abused in an effort to halt the construction of the Tellico Dam by the Tennessee Valley Authority. We should also not forget how the ESA was infamously used to kill the timber industry by way of the spotted owl, and, along with it,  tens of thousands of jobs in the Pacific Northwest. The egregious exploitation of the ESA has been used countless times to stop American progress. What will you do to stop the abuse of the ESA?
6. Last year the Biden administration finalized their “Public Lands Rule.” This was designed to eviscerate the multi-use requirements of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). Will you review this regulation and take appropriate steps to promote the requirements of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA)?     
7. A poll found that 88% of voters believe it is important to produce natural gas and oil in the United States; 90% believe producing natural gas and oil strengthens the U.S. economy; and 85% believe that producing natural gas and oil in the United States helps make it more secure against actions by countries such as China and Russia. What concrete steps can you take to ensure the will of the American people is followed and federal lands continue to be used for energy production?

The American Energy Alliance will be scoring the vote for his nomination on the Senate floor for our American Energy Scorecard. 

AEA Experts Available For Interview On This Topic:

• Tom J. Pyle, President
• Kenny Stein, Vice President of Policy
• Alex Stevens, Manager of Policy and Communications 

Additional Background Resources From AEA:

• AEA – American Energy Scorecard 

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