The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to confirm former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the Department of Interior. During his confirmation hearing, Burgum emphasized a commitment to advancing U.S. energy production in President Donald Trump’s administration.

In addition to running the Interior Department, Doug Burgum will also serve as energy czar and chair of a White House energy council.

Former Governor Doug Burgum’s nomination as Secretary of the Interior earned the support of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday in Washington, DC.

President Trump's nominees for top posts in his administration are gearing up for their Senate confirmation hearings, which kicked off earlier this month.

It came hours after he announced he was immediately appointing Christopher Rocheleau, a 22-year veteran of the agency, in the wake of the deadly plane crash in Washington. "He's a very capable guy," Trump said of Rocheleau as he signed the order.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (North Dakota Monitor) – During Doug Burgum’s two terms as North Dakota governor, the state repeatedly sued the U.S. Department of the Interior, attempting to rip up rules that govern federal lands in his state and across the country.

Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of the Interior, speaks during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources ...

Emails obtained by the Associated Press reveal Doug Burgum as North Dakota governor aided oil and gas executives and leveraged connections to boost his profile.

The Senate voted 79 to 18 to confirm Mr. Burgum, a former governor of North Dakota, as the next interior secretary.

The Senate on Thursday evening confirmed President Trump’s primary rival-turned-ally Doug Burgum to serve as interior secretary.

Doug Burgum confirmed as interior secretary after Trump tapped him to boost US fossil fuel production.