Burgum Nomination for Interior Secretary Sails Through Committee, Headed To Full Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR/AP) — President Trump’s three nominees to lead energy and environmental agencies and carry out his strategy for “energy dominance” have cleared Senate committees.

That includes former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources panel backed Burgum to lead the Interior Department and business executive Chris Wright to be Energy secretary.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency.

The votes for Burgum were 18-2.

:”You know both Doug and Chris are smart, talented people that will sit down and work with people on both sides of the aisle. And that was clear to the members of the committee which is why they got such strong bipartisan votes,” said Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota who introduced Burgum during the committee hearing.

The nominations now head to the full Senate, where all three men are expected to be confirmed, possibly within days.