In a significant political appointment, President-elect Donald Trump has named North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as the new Secretary of the Interior and chairman of the newly established National Energy Council.

Gov. Doug Burgum will assume dual roles in Trump's administration, leading both the Department of the Interior and the National Energy Council, Fox News reported.

During a formal announcement on Friday, President-elect Trump unveiled that Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota will take the helm at the U.S. Department of the Interior. This official revelation came following an informal introduction of Burgum’s appointment at a gala event at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, the night before.

Trump expressed his excitement about Burgum's appointment at the Thursday gala, emphasizing that Burgum’s leadership will focus on reducing regulatory overhead and bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Trump Praises Burgum's Vision for Energy Dominance

"I am thrilled to announce that Doug Burgum, the Governor of North Dakota, will be joining my Administration as both Secretary of the Interior and, as Chairman of the newly formed, and very important, National Energy Council," said Trump.

He added, "The National Energy Council will oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the Economy, and by focusing on INNOVATION over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation."

Burgum, following the official announcement, took to social media to express his gratitude for the opportunity. "I’m deeply grateful to President @RealDonaldTrump for this amazing opportunity to serve the American people and achieve ENERGY DOMINANCE!" he posted.

Burgum's Background and Political Journey

Before entering politics, Doug Burgum accumulated wealth and expertise as the CEO of a successful software company, later transitioning into politics as a two-term governor of North Dakota.

His gubernatorial campaigns focused significantly on energy and natural resources, which are pivotal to North Dakota's economy. Despite his unsuccessful bid for the GOP presidential nomination, where he dropped out before the third debate, Burgum remained a key figure in political circles.

Shortly after withdrawing from the race, Burgum endorsed Trump for the GOP nomination and became an influential surrogate for Trump, frequently appearing at campaign events and speaking on behalf of Trump's policies.

Burgum Considered for Vice Presidency

Political analysts once considered Gov. Burgum a potential vice-presidential candidate before Senator JD Vance ultimately secured the spot. He maintained unwavering support for Trump throughout the campaign season.

In a recent interview, Burgum expressed enthusiasm about the new administration's prospects under Trump's leadership, describing his election victory as "game changing" and a significant step toward American energy dominance.

"America is going to be dominant in energy which is key to all the diplomacy we do all over the world," Burgum remarked, aligning his vision with that of the new energy council's objectives.

Enhancing Private Sector Investment and Reducing Regulation

As part of his new role, Burgum will be instrumental in spearheading initiatives aimed at reducing regulatory barriers that hinder private sector investments and promoting innovation within the energy sector.

At the Thursday gala, Trump highlighted the broader goals of the administration, stating, "He's going to head the Department of Interior, and he's going to be fantastic. We're going to reduce regulation waste, fraud, and inefficiency. We're going to clean out the corrupt, broken, and failing bureaucracies."

This bold direction aims to reshape how energy policies are approached in the U.S., emphasizing a streamlined, more effective management of the country's natural resources.