President Trump has made two things clear about the Golden Age he envisions for America’s future: energy will be abundant, and the air and water will be clean. By packaging these two priorities in blunt messaging – “Energy Dominance” and “Clean Air and Water” – Trump is telling the public trust that he views them as complementary rather than competing goals – and that his bold regulatory agenda can accomplish both. At the same time, he’s putting much pressure on Chris Wright, Doug Burgum, and Lee Zeldin – his nominees to lead the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Interior (DOI), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As it turns out, Trump has very good reason to be confident in this trio to get the job done. Wright, Burgum, and Zeldin were all unflappable in their confirmation hearings, sailing through their respective oversight committees. At this time, the Senate has confirmed Burgum and Zeldin by comfortable bipartisan votes, and Wright should be confirmed soon.
Here’s our breakdown of President Trump’s “energy cabinet”:
Chris Wright
Chris Wright may be a political novice, but he’s had a far more positive impact on decarbonization as an energy entrepreneur than any politician. Wright’s first venture – Pinnacle Technologies – created the hydraulic fracturing mapping technology that eventually played a pivotal role in catalyzing the U.S. shale revolution. After selling Pinnacle, Wright founded Liberty Energy in 2011, growing it into a leading fracking company while investing in some of the most promising startup ventures in advanced nuclear fission, batteries, and geothermal energy. Before his entrepreneurial career, he studied nuclear fusion and solar energy at MIT and Cal-Berkeley.
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Wright demonstrated a masterful understanding of the complex tradeoffs involved in all forms of energy. Furthermore, his expertise and transparent principles fostered “robust discussions” that allowed both sides to debate and measure beliefs against facts, as noted by Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO). This clarity was evident as Wright addressed specific energy projects relevant to each Senator.
Despite interruptions from climate protestors, Wright affirmed that climate change is “absolutely” an issue. However, he diverges from progressive viewpoints by opposing top-down regulatory approaches, which often fail to judge trade-offs properly. Instead, Wright advocates for a fair yet efficient regulatory framework that fosters energy abundance and innovation. He believes the Department of Energy (DOE) plays a vital role in advancing scientific research and supporting the launch of nascent technologies. As one of the world’s most impactful energy entrepreneurs, Wright is uniquely equipped to identify where future breakthroughs may emerge.
Doug Burgum
Doug Burgum made his name as a successful tech entrepreneur, but it is his tenure as a two-term governor of North Dakota that highlights his qualifications for Interior Secretary.
In his opening testimony, Burgum stated, “In North Dakota, we created a prosperous economy by sustainably developing our natural resources with respect for our land and wildlife while maintaining some of the cleanest air and water in the country.” He champions “innovation over regulation” in public resource management and emphasizes early engagement with local stakeholders in project development. Burgum has earned enthusiastic endorsements from all North Dakota tribes, who praised his dedication to partnering with Native nations on public safety, economic development, education, energy, and restoring government-to-government relationships that honor tribal sovereignty.
Burgum’s entrepreneurial mindset was evident as he described public lands as assets on “America’s balance sheet” to be managed for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people. While protecting recreation and wilderness areas remains essential, he argued for a balanced approach that includes exploration and development—particularly of critical minerals—to generate revenue and reduce reliance on adversaries, especially in light of a growing national debt. Burgum contrasted this with the Biden administration’s restrictive policies, which he claimed have hindered domestic mineral and oil production on public lands.
As an avid outdoorsman, Burgum is committed to supporting outdoor recreation as a driver of economic growth. He received endorsements from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable for his efforts in North Dakota and views outdoor recreation as a solution to mental health and addiction crises. He also highlighted the vital role hunters and fishermen play as dedicated conservationists. Additionally, Burgum expressed support for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, emphasizing the importance of leveraging local expertise in species management.
Lee Zeldin
As the U.S. congressman for his Long Island district from 2015 through 2023, Lee Zeldin has a long track record of working across the aisle and within the Republican policy to advance pragmatic environmental policy. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, his former House colleague Sen. John Curtis emphasized “how helpful” he was in “getting Republicans to talk about climate,” reflecting his leadership in the House Climate Solutions Caucus and the Conservative Climate Caucus. Moreover, Zeldin has consistently operated under the view that environmental stewardship and economic progress are not competing goals.
Given the legacy left by Biden’s EPA, Zeldin will have his hands full implementing the necessary overhauls to unleash economic progress while preserving environmental stewardship. While most Democrats on the committee seem unbothered by the excessive EPA regulations, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) expressed anxiety about the EPA’s emissions rules hindering Arizona’s manufacturing boom and unfairly accounting for emissions that cross state lines from California. As one of the top states for manufacturing investment, and with many factories struggling to get through the regulation process, Kelly’s frustration shows that rolling back mandates isn’t about partisanship or “climate denialism.” Kelly was the only Democrat on the committee to vote for Zeldin.