During his confirmation hearing, Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum assured Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono that he would prioritize following the law and the Constitution if confirmed to the post. Hirono questioned Burgum on whether he would stand up to potential demands from President-elect Donald Trump that could conflict with the department's mission to protect and manage the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage.
When asked about potentially being ordered by the president to act against the department's mission, such as drilling in Bears Ears national monument, Burgum emphasized his commitment to upholding the law and the Constitution. He stated, 'As part of my sworn duty, I'll follow the law and follow the Constitution, and so you can count on that.'
