Sen. Hirono: “The fact of the matter is that you have military leaders who acknowledge that climate change is a major issue, and for you to take the position that you are going to engage in actions that will result in the burning of more fossil fuel—it’s troubling.”
~ Video of Sen. Hirono’s question line can be found here ~
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, pressed Doug Burgum, President-elect Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the Interior, in his confirmation hearing on his intent to expand oil and gas drilling on a massive scale—at Trump’s request—which will lead to increased burning of fossil fuels, as well as his commitment to implement the new Compacts of Free Association (COFA). If confirmed as Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Burgum would be responsible for managing 700 million acres of underground minerals, over 480 million acres of public lands, including nearly 400 national parks and monuments, as well as countless dams and reservoirs.
Senator Hirono began with two questions related to sexual misconduct, which she has asked every nominee since 2018. She then pressed Mr. Burgum on his comments that President-elect Trump’s “energy dominance vision” will end wars abroad.
“President Trump has directed you to expand oil and gas drilling on a massive scale, which will lead to increased burning of fossil fuels,” said Senator Hirono during the exchange. “The fact of the matter is that you have military leaders who acknowledge that climate change is a major issue, and for you to take the position that you are going to engage in actions that will result in the burning of more fossil fuel—it’s troubling.”
In addition to being nominated to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), President-elect Trump has also tapped Mr. Burgum to be his “energy czar” on Trump’s new “National Energy Council” with a seat on the National Security Council, giving Mr. Burgum power to significantly influence the country’s policies on energy production and regulation.
During her line of inquiry, Senator Hirono also asked Mr. Burgum to reaffirm his commitment to prioritize DOI’s mission over his loyalty to President-elect Trump.
“As Secretary of the Interior, it is your duty to see that the department carries out its mission: to protect and manage our national—our nation's natural resources and cultural heritage,” said Senator Hirono. “We all know that the President wants to ‘drill, baby drill.’”
“So I would ask you that, should you be confirmed, that you will have these kinds of matters that you'll have to decide,” continued Senator Hirono. “Are you going to drill in a monument? Are you going to protect our natural resources? Or are you going to ‘drill, baby drill?’”
Senator Hirono then asked Mr. Burgum for his commitment to implement the new Compacts of Free Association—which falls under the purview of DOI—in accordance with the law that was enacted in 2024.
The full transcript of Senator Hirono’s exchange with Mr. Burgum is available below. Video of Senator Hirono’s question line can be found here.
Sen. Hirono: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome. As part of my responsibilities to ensure the fitness of nominees before any of the committees on which I sit, I ask the following two initial questions. First is, since you became a legal adult have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?
Mr. Burgum: No, senator. I have not.
Sen. Hirono: Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?
Mr. Burgum: I have not.
Sen. Hirono: We received your testimony late yesterday and you noted that “President Trump’s energy dominance vision will end wars abroad.” President Trump has directed you to expand oil and gas drilling on a massive scale, which will lead to increased burning of fossil fuels. Now, the scientific consensus is that burning fossil fuels is a primary human cause of climate change.
In 2017, then-Secretary of Defense James Mattis, appointed by then-President Trump, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that “climate change is impacting stability in areas of the world where our troops are operating.” In 2014, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said that “climate change is a critical national security threat and a threat multiplier.”
Now, these are two Secretaries of Defense—they know something about war. Were you aware that they testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on a number of times that burning more fossil fuel is actually going to not result in the end of wars but could very well exacerbate and cause wars? Were you aware of this testimony?
Mr. Burgum: Senator, no. I am not aware of that specific testimony. But, I do know that within fossil fuels the concern has been about emissions, and within emissions, we have the technology to do things like carbon capture to eliminate harmful emissions at the same time.
Sen. Hirono: Well, the fact of the matter is that you have military leaders who acknowledge that climate change is a major issue. And for you to take the position that you are going to engage in actions that will result in the burning of more fossil fuel—it’s troubling.
As Secretary of the Interior, it is your duty to see that the department carries out its mission: to protect and manage our national—our nation's natural resources and cultural heritage. If you are ordered by the President to act in a manner that is counter to the department’s mission or to the Constitution, such as drilling in Bear[s] Ears National Monument, will you do as the President asks? Because he wants to drill in that monument.
Mr. Burgum: Senator, of course, as part of my sworn duty I will follow the law and follow the Constitution, and so you can count on that. And I have not heard of any—
Sen. Hirono: Well—
Mr. Burgum: —anything about President Trump wanting to do anything—
Sen. Hirono: Well he certainly wants to—
Mr. Burgum: —other than advancing energy production for the benefit of the American people in a legal way.
Sen. Hirono: We all know that the President wants to “drill, baby drill.” And in your testimony you say that he has an energy dominance vision.
So I would ask you that, should you be confirmed, that you will have these kinds of matters that you'll have to decide. Are you going to drill in a monument? Are you going to protect our natural resources?
Mr. Burgum: I—
Sen. Hirono: Or are you going to “drill, baby drill?” So, I raise that as a concern with you going forward.
Compacts of Free Association—last year, Congress renewed our Compacts of Free Association and that comes within the purview of Interior. It involves Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. I would like to get your commitment to implement the new Compacts of Free Association in accordance with the bipartisan law that was enacted last year.
Mr. Burgum: Well, senator these Pacific islands, in addition to the three that you mentioned that are part of the Compact—but also the others that are under the insulars of the Interior—are all critically important to national security for the United States of America. All of them have important military implications. All of these are places where U.S. sailors fought and died during World War II. And with the aggression that China is showing in the Pacific, it’s more important that we support them more than ever. I know that Hawaii plays an important role, including in things like with medical care for those residents of those islands and I think it is important that the federal government does its share as opposed to putting the load on the state.
Sen. Hirono: Thank you. It sounds as though you have familiarity with the Compacts, for which I am gratified. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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