President-elect Donald Trump will name North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to head up the Department of Interior. Many Alaskans had been speculating the job of secretary of Interior would go to Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who has been close with Trump.
Trump revealed his choice at an event at Mar-a-Lago and said it would be official on Friday.
Although Dunleavy was a logical pick, it’s unclear why Trump went a different direction. The job of the secretary of Interior impacts Alaska more than any other state, since so much of Alaska is owned by the federal government.
Some are saying Dunleavy might be in line for the Secretary of Energy, but there are rumors that former Gov. Sarah Palin might get that job. She, too, is close with Trump.
Doug Burgum took office as the 33rd governor of North Dakota on Dec. 15, 2016. It was his first run for governor and he is term-limited out this month.
Under his leadership, North Dakota now has the nation’s third-highest GDP per capita, ranks second in energy production per capita, and has some of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.
Burgum briefly ran for president, but his candidacy did not catch fire. Instead, he led his state to become a national leader in innovation, energy, agriculture, and technology.
“His efforts to drive engagement with the five tribal nations with whom North Dakota shares geography have greatly improved state-tribal relationships through collaboration and addressing challenges and opportunities with understanding and mutual respect,” his bio says at the official page of the governor.
Gov. Burgum has championed the largest income tax relief package in state history in 2023.
He has been a leader in transforming education and equipping students with the essential skills for life and learning, preparing graduates for a choice-ready future in college, career or the military. He stands with those in recovery and, with First Lady Kathryn Burgum, is pushing a positive movement to eliminate the shame and stigma of the disease of addiction and support behavioral health, mental health and addiction by focusing on the foundations of well-being.
Maybe Trump knows Mike more than we give him credit.
Palin just needs to go away.
Dunleavy went up against President Trumps Army Corp. of Engineers permit denial for the proposed Pebble mine by suing the Federal Government on behalf of foreign owned and Security’s Fraud convicted Pebble Ltd., which goes against Trumps America first policy.
Summarize; Go against Trump and you get the horn.
Dunleavy needs to stay here. We are better off with him concentrating on Alaska and not splitting time with the other 49 states.
Bingo!