A former top staffer for then-Vice President Mike Pence is serving as a senior aide to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, although his formal title and role have not been announced publicly.
Jarrod Agen, who served as Pence’s communications director from 2017 until 2019, has landed in Burgum’s inner circle at the department, according to two people familiar with Interior’s staffing who were granted anonymity to discuss personnel.
Interior has been secretive about the identities of its political appointees during Trump’s second term, and the secretary’s office has already witnessed turnover. Burgum’s former chief of staff, Wynn Radford, was replaced by acting chief of staff and longtime Burgum ally JoDee Hanson just a month into the secretary’s tenure.
Agen’s exact role and title remain unclear, although one of the people familiar with Interior’s staffing said Agen is close to the secretary and is viewed as one of his key advisers.
