The President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Friday, November 16, the creation of a National Council energy (CNE), whose mission will be to “oversee the path to energy domination of the United States”. He named North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as its head. This same Doug Burgum who was also appointed Minister of the Interior on Thursday, responsible not for the police but for the management of federal lands.
This double role arouses the concern of environmental protection organizations, who fear that the Burgum government, known for its proximity to the oil and gas industry, will open up to prospecting lands including the Ministry of Interior has the charge, like national parks. Its mission will be to “reduce administrative formalities, strengthen private sector investments and focus on innovation instead of absolutely unnecessary long-term regulations”, it is specified in a press release from the Republican.
Double cap
“With U.S. energy dominance, we will reduce inflation, win the artificial intelligence arms race against China (and others), strengthen U.S. diplomatic power, and end wars around the world.” , added Donald Trump, quoted in the text.
Candidate in the Republican primary, Doug Burgum quickly withdrew to immediately support the ex-president, and was even considered for a time as a potential vice-presidential candidate. Having become a millionaire by selling his software company to Microsoft, this native of North Dakota ran for governor of this state in the northern United States in 2016, winning by surprise before being re-elected in 2020.
He had also been cited among the potential candidates for the Ministry of Energy, but should ultimately find himself at the head of this National Council, which will report directly to the White House and does not require the approval of the Senate, and of the department of the Interior.