Energy & Environment — Burgum confirmed as Interior secretary

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View Online Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   PRESENTED BY  The Big Story  Senate confirms Burgum as Interior secretary The Senate confirmed former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) as Interior secretary Thursday in a 79-18 vote, with the majority of Senate Democrats joining every Republican in the chamber. © Photo Credit Burgum, a one-time candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination turned visible Trump campaign surrogate, has been among the president's least controversial nominees. He advanced out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week in a nearly unanimous vote, with only Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) voting against the nomination.   Wyden, the mastermind of the renewable energy tax credits within the Inflation Reduction Act, cited President Trump's opposition to the cuts in opposing both Burgum and Energy secretary nominee Chris Wright, who is also unlikely to face significant Senate opposition.   "I cannot support these nominees who will carry out Trump's policies that throw out America's greatest advantages," Wyden said last week.   As Interior secretary, Burgum will oversee environmental policy and the nation's public lands. Trump has vowed on the campaign trail and in his early actions as president to expand oil and gas development and roll back environmental protections enacted under the Biden administration.   In remarks at his confirmation hearing, Burgum signaled support for those priorities, saying, "We live in a time of tremendous abundance, and we can access that abundance by prioritizing innovation over regulation."   The vote comes the day after the Senate confirmed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin in a 56-42 vote.   Read more at TheHill.com. Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: Trump vows sweeping tariffs on oil, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors President Trump on Friday vowed to impose sweeping tariffs on semiconductor chips, pharmaceuticals, steel and aluminum and oil and gas.  Full Story Senate Environment Committee Democrats press Zeldin on grants freeze Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Friday called on newly-confirmed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to answer questions about the Trump administration's pause on Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funds.  Full Story Zeldin: Anyone who isn't 'committed to' Trump's directives shouldn't be at EPA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin said Friday that anyone who is uncommitted to carrying out President Trump's directives may not belong at the agency.  Full Story In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Judge formally blocks Trump's federal aid freeze  A federal judge blocked President Trump's federal aid freeze Friday, finding that Democratic state attorneys general who sued are likely to prevail in their claims that it is illegal.  Full Story What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: Invasive Crabs Have Taken Over New England. One Solution? Eat Them. (The New York Times)   Scientists race to restore Calif.'s largest — and contaminated — freshwater lake (SFGate) Climate Change Is Helping Fuel an Urban Rat Boom (Bloomberg) A MESSAGE FROM AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE Fix Permitting to Power Growth Energy projects face years of delays. Reforming our system will unlock jobs, investment, and innovation to power America forward. See how we can fix it. On Tap  Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: Next week: The Senate could vote to confirm Chris Wright to lead the Energy Department on Monday. The Senate is expected to vote on a bill that would prohibit any sort of fracking moratorium.   The Senate Science Space and Tech Committee will vote on whether to advance Howard Lutnik's nomination and a broad range of bills on Wednesday. What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Air traffic controllers union responds to Trump's DEI attacks The air traffic controllers union responded Friday to claims by President Trump this week that diversity programs contributed to the fatal crash in Washington Wednesday night. Read more Gabbard in danger after views on Snowden rankle GOP senators Director of national intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard's views on former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden and his theft of more than a million classified documents mushroomed into a major point of contention with Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. Read more Opinions in The Hill  Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: An Electricity Interstate for the United States  Climate warriors need a smarter strategy   You're all caught up. See you Monday!  Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? 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