Governor Doug Burgum Confirmed as Secretary of the Department of the Interior

January 30, 2025 – Washington, D.C. – Today, Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF) are applauding the confirmation of Doug Burgum by the U.S. Senate as the incoming Secretary of the Department of the Interior. He is a proven private and public and sector leader, as seen during the eight years he served as North Dakota’s Governor, where he advocated for public access, hunting and wildlife habitat conservation. 

“We are excited to work with Secretary Burgum to increase hunting access and habitat conservation on America’s public lands,” said Ariel Wiegard, PF & QF’s vice president of government affairs. “Managing the public’s shared natural resources—for outdoor recreation, energy development, water usage, and more—requires a collaborative and balanced approach, which Burgum deftly carried out as Governor. PF & QF look forward to his leadership and his advocacy for America’s upland habitats and the sportsmen and women who enjoy them.”

Secretary Burgum will now preside over nearly 500 million acres of public lands which are overseen by the Department of the Interior, such as those managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – the latter agency recently signed a new 10-year Memorandum of Understanding with PF & QF. 

As part of his nomination process, Secretary Burgum participated in a hearing with the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senators asked several questions to gauge his knowledge and opinions on relevant topics, including the importance of protecting our nation’s resources for future hunters and anglers. 

“These things go hand in hand,” Burgum said during the hearing. “You cannot separate hunting from the love of the outdoors, respect for wildlife, and dollars that flow back into habitat.” 

“We congratulate Governor Doug Burgum on his confirmation as Secretary of the Department of the Interior,” said Emily Spolyar, PF & QF’s North Dakota state coordinator. “As a fellow outdoorsman, Secretary Burgum recognizes the importance of our national outdoor heritage to millions of Americans. His commitment to science-based conservation and outdoor recreation will be instrumental in perpetuating our natural resources and the opportunities they provide for future generations of outdoor enthusiasts.”

To learn more about Secretary Burgum’s experiences, visit this page.

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 500,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 580,000 habitat projects benefiting 28.8 million acres.

Media Contact
Jared Wiklund
651-209-4953
jwiklund@pheasantsforever.org