Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has strongly endorsed President Trump's newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Speaking in a digital interview, Burgum, a former software company CEO and North Dakota governor, highlighted the importance of transparency in government, a virtue he sees DOGE bringing to the forefront.
Burgum also took the opportunity to discuss the outdated state of federal technology, stating the urgent need for modernization. DOGE, under the stewardship of global business mogul Elon Musk, has embarked on a mission to eradicate wasteful federal spending and streamline the federal workforce. The department's actions have sparked several lawsuits.
While DOGE's cost-cutting measures have faced criticism from some quarters, Burgum asserts that the department is on a mission to enhance efficiency. Gov. Ned Lamont has countered, suggesting that DOGE is merely shifting costs to the states without improving efficiency.
The Department of the Interior, which Burgum heads, has seen its staff numbers shrink by approximately 2,000 in recent times due to DOGE's actions. When questioned about these cuts, Burgum defended the decision, stating that the department was striving towards right-sizing its workforce.
Despite this reduction, Burgum announced the reinstatement of about 5,000 seasonal jobs that had been previously cut. These positions, primarily in the National Park Service, are crucial during the peak visitor months of spring and summer.
In his role as Interior Secretary, Burgum oversees all oil and gas drilling leases on federal lands and waters. He is a strong proponent of Trump's comprehensive energy agenda, arguing that it benefits all Americans.
Burgum also underlined the correlation between energy prices and inflation, stating that lower energy prices would result in lower inflation for everyone. He ended on a note of optimism, expressing his belief that the export of energy to allies could bolster President Trump's chances of winning the Nobel Peace Prize.