Doug Burgum
Secretary of the Interior
Douglas James Burgum was born in August 1956 in Arthur, North Dakota. He earned an undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University. He received an M.B.A. from Stanford University. He started a chimney-sweep business as an undergrad.
Burgum was a management consultant at a firm in Chicago before helping to launch the accounting software company, Great Plains Software. He became vice president of marketing for the business. He acquired a controlling interest and eventually took the company public. He sold the company in 2001 to Microsoft and became an executive in its business solutions group.
Burgum then co-founded a venture capital company connected to technology and science. He also founded a real-estate development firm.
Burgum was elected governor of North Dakota in 2016. He was reelected in 2020. In 2023, he ran for president rather than seek a third gubernatorial term. He suspended his campaign after failing to qualify for the third debate for the national party rules for donations and polling.
President Donald Trump announced his nomination of Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior in November 2024. The Senate confirmed him on January 30, 2025, and he was sworn in the following day.
Burgum is married to Kathryn Helgaas. He is divorced from Karen Stoker, with whom he has three children.
In the News…
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the opening of the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum as part of the U.S. semiquincentennial celebration. The 15,000-square-foot museum sits beneath the memorial to the 16th president and is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.
Secretary Burgum said, “The Lincoln Memorial is more than a monument. It is a testament to the ideals that unite us as Americans. This new visitor experience honors that legacy by making one of our nation’s most iconic memorials more accessible, engaging and inspiring for millions of visitors.“
The interior secretary continued, “As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, sites like the Lincoln Memorial help ensure our history is preserved, our public spaces are revitalized, and our national treasures continue to tell the story of this great nation.”
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Secretary Burgum today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Doug Burgum
Secretary of the Interior
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
