US Senate confirms Trump’s pick to lead his ‘drill, baby, drill’ agenda

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Senate has confirmed former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as Interior Secretary, overseeing vast federal lands critical to President Donald Trump's pro-fossil fuel agenda
• Burgum will also serve as Trump's energy czar and chair a newly created White House energy council
• His confirmation signals a shift toward expanding U.S. oil, gas, and mining operations

🔭 The context: Burgum, a former tech executive, ran a short-lived 2024 presidential campaign before endorsing Trump and helping shape his energy policies
• He has strong ties to the oil industry and attended a high-profile Mar-a-Lago fundraiser where Trump reportedly sought $1 billion from executives while promising to roll back environmental regulations
• Despite concerns, Burgum’s nomination was far less controversial than others in Trump’s cabinet

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: With Burgum at the helm, the Interior Department is expected to loosen restrictions on drilling and mining in sensitive areas, reversing Biden-era climate policies
• This could lead to increased carbon emissions and environmental degradation
• Environmental groups warn his leadership will accelerate Trump’s push for fossil fuel dominance

⏭️ What's next: The newly created National Energy Dominance Council will coordinate pro-fossil fuel policies across the federal government
• Democrats and environmental advocates are bracing for aggressive deregulation efforts
• The fight over federal land use and climate policies is set to intensify

💬 One quote: “Trump’s unconstitutional power grabs make clear just how dangerous his extreme Project 2025 agenda is.” – Lena Moffitt, Evergreen Action

📈 One stat: The U.S. Interior Department manages 500 million acres of federal land and over 1 billion acres of federal waters, making it central to energy and environmental policy

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