Burgum signs first secretarial orders to implement 'energy dominance' agenda
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
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In his first day on the job, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed six secretarial orders intended to further President Trump's "energy dominance" agenda. The orders mirror Trump's executive orders on energy, including his declaration of a "national energy emergency" and his directives to "unleash" American energy.
Secretary's Order 3417 - Addressing the National Energy Emergency directs all bureaus and offices within the department to identify all available authorities to facilitate domestic energy and critical minerals production—including, but not limited to, on federal public lands—and to identify authorities to expedite energy and natural resources projects. These directives come at a time when U.S. oil and gas production is at an all-time high, and when industry has shown little interest in increasing production even further. "Claiming there’s an energy ‘emergency’ when America’s oil and gas production is at an all-time high is laughable," Center for Western Priorities Policy Director Rachael Hamby said in a statement in response to Trump's declaration of a national energy "emergency."
Secretary's Order 3418 - Unleashing American Energy directs the agency to review "burdensome" energy development policies and to conduct a review of domestic mining and minerals processing. SO 3418 also includes directives to review a number of policies including the Bureau of Land Management's Oil and Gas Rule and the BLM's Public Lands Rule; to review all public land withdrawals; and to review specific BLM resource management plans including the Rock Springs RMP in Wyoming. Department staff have 15 days to submit action plans for bringing these and other policies into compliance with Trump's executive orders.
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Interior department takes first steps to carry out Trump energy agenda
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 I mean, we see what can happen with a crude oil train. My God, what are we going to do with a nuclear waste accident?”
—Tim Redmond, Routt County (CO) Commissioner, Colorado Sun
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@alaskanps
Advancing racial equality can feel like scaling a mountain: in the thick of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, one man managed to do both.
Charles Crenchaw, an experienced mountaineer, joined a team of 15 climbers with the goal of summiting Denali. The journey was fraught with the typical challenges of high-altitude climbing, including fierce weather and the complexities of feeding a sizable crew. Perseverance prevailed, and on June 9, 1964, the majority of the climbers reached the summit. Along with their success in summiting came a notable accomplishment: Crenchaw had become the first Black person to summit Denali, North America's highest peak.
Despite his accomplishments within the Civil Rights era of the 1960s, Crenchaw did not fit the mold of an activist; instead, he navigated a complex web of societal dynamics, often enjoying privileges that many of his African American contemporaries did not. Although questions linger about his motivations, his navigation of systemic racism, and how he was perceived within the broader African American community, his story of summiting Denali will never be forgotten.
Celebrate Black History Month with us by learning more about Crenchaw's story: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/charlescrenchaw.htm
NPS Photo / Ken Conger
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