Interior Department Turmoil Under Secretary Doug Burgum

Doug Burgur, former North Dakota governor and tech founder, was confirmed to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2025 and appointed chair of the National Energy Dominance Council, a Trump-created body focused on fossil-fuel development. His tenure has featured a shift toward “energy dominance” policies and staffing reductions initiated by an efficiency drive.

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Since taking office, Interior has seen the departure of several senior officials, including the Senate-confirmed legal counsel and the former chief of staff. Former employees describe a culture of secrecy: documents shredded, communications via disappearing Signal messages, and staff asked to sign nondisclosure agreements. Allegations also surfaced that Burgum suggested adding a new Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) on a floor already housing one, a claim the department’s spokesperson denies.

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The controversy intensified when U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro accused Interior of misrepresenting damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Interior awarded a no-bid contract to a Virginia firm for pool-lining work that exceeded budget by millions. Pirro’s filing alleges Interior withheld evidence showing the damage resulted from shoddy installation rather than vandalism, prompting her to move to dismiss criminal charges against several defendants.

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• Interior’s workforce has shrunk by close to 14 percent according to Office of Personnel Management data, reflecting buyouts and early retirements initiated in spring 2025.

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• A federal contract awarded in early May gave Bridges System Integration a $215,000 award for a “SCIF AV upgrade” to the existing facility.

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• Interior spokesperson Katie Martin asserted that Burgum leads a “high-performing team” characterized by “gratitude, humility, curiosity and courage,” and dismissed staff allegations as “Fake News.” She also denied any request for an additional SCIF.

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• In response to Pirro’s filing, Burgum maintained the department’s explanation that the Reflecting Pool damage was caused by vandalism, while Pirro’s office contended that Interior’s withholding of information prevented a grand-jury indictment.

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Three former officials blamed Burgum’s chief of staff Jo Dee Hanson for a “rough style” that led to resignations, noting incidents where subordinates were made to cry. Additional former staff reported that the department routinely shredded official documents and used private email accounts for government business, practices they say violate the Federal Records Act.

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• SCIF Allegations: Former staff claim Burgum pushed for a new SCIF on the sixth floor, whereas Katie Martin states no such request was made.

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• Reflecting Pool Damage: Interior maintains the damage was vandalism; Pirro’s DOJ filing argues the department concealed evidence of faulty installation. Both sides cite internal communications, but the full record has not been released.

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• Workforce Reductions: The department has not publicly commented on the 14 percent staffing decline, leaving the rationale and impact on park and land management unclear.

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• “Burgum appears to combine arrogance with an utter lack of curiosity or humility to seek out the advice of people who have dedicated their professional careers to [Interior’s] objectives,” — Tony Irish

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The ongoing discord within the Interior Department highlights a clash between the secretary’s energy-focused agenda and longstanding bureaucratic culture, raising questions about transparency, staff morale, and the department’s capacity to manage the nation’s public lands.

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