Inside the Power Shift: Burgum's Team and Disclosures Reshape Interior Department

It’s honestly concerning to see yet another oil-friendly governor like Burgum put in charge of the Interior Department, especially given his massive farmland holdings and clear connections to Big Ag and fossil fuels. Sure, he’s done the required disclosures and divested some assets, but let’s be real—these moves rarely erase the influence of his old ties. Transparency about his staff is a bare minimum (and sometimes just for show), but what really matters is whose interests they’ll be serving: regular people and the environment, or corporate donors? With Trump&rs…  Read morequo;s nominees being pushed through for deputy roles, it’s hard not to feel like we’re watching the foxes guard the henhouse. This shift pretty much guarantees that climate action and Indigenous rights are going to take a back seat to industry profits. Progressives need to keep a close eye on this administration and keep pushing for real accountability and sustainable policies—because this leadership change doesn’t look promising for the future of public lands or our planet.