Interior Department Turmoil Under Secretary Doug Burgum

Current and former officials of the Interior Department say morale has deteriorated since Doug Burgum, former North Dakota governor (2016-2024), became secretary. Employees describe a “culture of secrecy and dysfunction,” noting high turnover, disappearing Signal messages, shredded documents, and a leadership “terrified of written records.” Three former staff members singled out chief of staff JoDee Hanson, 53, for a management style that “left subordinates in tears” and contributed to departures. The article reports that the department has lost nearly 14 percent of its workforce since Burgum took office, including the top lawyer, chief of staff, and energy leaders.

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The internal discord coincides with a public feud between Burgum and Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Pirro alleges that Interior officials failed to provide key evidence showing damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool resulted from faulty construction rather than vandalism. She argues that timely disclosure would have prevented a grand-jury indictment. “Had [Interior] been forthcoming with the information clearly in its possession, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment,” — Jeanine Pirro, attorney

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Interior Department spokesperson Katie Martin dismissed the allegations as “anonymous and false attacks,” asserting that Burgum leads with “gratitude, humility, curiosity and courage” and denying any use of a private email for government business.

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• “Had [Interior] been forthcoming with the information clearly in its possession, the government would not have sought a grand jury indictment,” — Jeanine Pirro, attorney.

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