In response to the news that President-elect Donald Trump has nominated North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as secretary of the Interior, Evergreen Action Executive Director Lena Moffitt released the following statement:

“Donald Trump’s nomination of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to lead the Interior Department is nothing more than a reward for a career of putting fossil fuel corporations and special interests ahead of the American people. Burgum isn’t just a politician with ties to Big Oil—he’s a willing stooge for their agenda. Fossil fuel giant Continental Resources spent big backing a pro-Burgum Super PAC in his presidential campaign and Burgum personally profited from an oil lease on his family’s land with the same company. His cozy relationship with fossil fuel executives, including efforts to broker a $1 billion quid-pro-quo fundraising scheme for Trump’s campaign at Mar-a-Lago, makes it clear where his priorities lie.

“This nomination isn’t about protecting public lands or communities—it’s about securing a blank check for corporate polluters to rig the system in their favor. As interior secretary, Burgum would turn the agency into a tool for fossil fuel corporations to exploit public resources, worsening climate disasters and increasing deadly pollution. The American people deserve leaders who will fight for them—not for corporate greed and special interests.”

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