Interior Secretary Doug Burgum urged House Republicans in a meeting Tuesday morning to continue to roll back Biden administration energy policies — and largely glossed over the GOP megabill’s energy provisions, according to multiple people in the room.
Burgum’s early morning speech at Republicans’ weekly meeting was an opportunity for members to hear about the Interior Department’s energy and natural resources priorities just weeks after Republicans passed their reconciliation bill and as Burgum takes a leading role in President Donald Trump’s push to stymie wind and solar.
House Republicans are leaving Washington later this week for a six-week recess in which they will work to highlight the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — including its energy and natural resources provisions — while under fire from Democrats who say the bill will increase energy costs and result in project cancellations and layoffs.
Burgum, meanwhile, is leading the Trump administration’s National Energy Dominance Council and working to implement the policies in the megabill.
Separately, because of a recent Trump executive order, he is now in charge of personally signing off on any action advancing solar and wind power projects under federal review.
“Priorities were our energy grid, critical minerals, vulnerability — clearly, this administration’s priorities are showing that aspect of it — and then unwinding the last four years,” said Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), who served as Interior secretary during the first Trump administration.
“On the EV side of it, rolling back credits for it and making sure that there’s a [specific] place for solar,” Zinke said. “It’s just not going to power the AI side of it.”
Members leaving Tuesday’s meeting said Burgum pressed the importance of continuing to roll back Biden administration laws and regulations that favored renewables.
Congress’ Republican majorities have already used the Congressional Review Act and their reconciliation bill to repeal and rescind funds for dozens of clean energy and climate programs that Democrats approved in the last Congress.
“They’re going back” and looking at Biden-era policies to target, Zinke said of the Interior Department. “A lot of what they’re doing is unwinding the last four years,” he said.
Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, said Burgum “talked about domestic mining and energy independence and making sure that we reverse some of the disastrous pieces of legislation and rules brought in by the last administration.”
“We’re working at light speed to try to reverse it,” Stauber said.
Some members said Burgum discussed the ways in which the One Big Beautiful Bill Act supported the administration’s “energy dominance” agenda but that he did not dive into any specifics.
House Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) said Burgum “talked about the wins that were in the bill,” such as “producing more energy.” He said the secretary’s message was “alluding to the ability to use the resources on our federal lands.”
The reconciliation law contains provisions requiring more onshore and offshore oil and gas lease sales and provisions to support mining projects. It also includes language to fast-track approvals for certain fossil energy projects.
Westerman noted that Burgum highlighted his proposal to develop a “balance sheet,” or comprehensive inventory, of the United States’ federal land and mineral assets. He has said the plan could potentially help maintain or improve the country’s credit rating.
House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), who hosted the meeting with Burgum, later told reporters that Republicans will use the upcoming August recess to sell the reconciliation bill’s wins to constituents.
The goal, McClain said, is to “remind the Democrats that it’s the Republicans that are actually unleashing American energy. You know, putting money back into our economy, making us energy-independent again.”
