Shortly after being sworn in to lead the Interior Department, Secretary Doug Burgum announced steps he would take to implement Trump’s declaration of an energy emergency.
In one of a series of secretarial orders he announced, Burgum said he would direct Interior’s bureaus and offices to identify emergency and other legal authorities that can be used to speed up energy and mineral production and processing.
The order said that this should include, but not be limited to, offshore energy and energy on public lands.
On his first day in office, Trump declared that the nation was facing an energy emergency — unlocking additional powers to promote energy development. At the same time, however, he moved to block wind projects.
Trump has repeatedly criticized renewable energy, especially wind, and has pledged to “drill baby, drill.”
On Tuesday, Burgum also issued orders implementing additional Trump executive orders, including directing offices to identify regulations that can potentially be repealed to conform with Trump’s recent order that for every regulation there needs to be 10 deregulatory actions.
Burgum also issued an order to implement Trump’s reversal of former President Biden’s move to bar drilling off the East and West Coasts and parts of Alaska’s coast.
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Department of the Interior,” Burgum said in a written statement. “We are committed to working collaboratively to unlock America’s full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of America’s natural resources and innovation.”
