Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said that the US’s natural resources are “national assets” that can be used to pay down the national debt. At a recent conference, Burgum stated that economic activity on federal lands could generate trillions of dollars in revenue. If the Department of the Interior were a standalone company, it would have the world’s largest balance sheet.
Burgum criticized the Biden administration’s efforts to conserve federal lands and waters to protect ecosystems and local communities. He argued that these efforts hinder America’s economic potential. As chair of the White House National Energy Dominance Council, Burgum aims to “unleash America’s balance sheet” by tapping into the country’s natural resources.
Burgum’s comments have sparked debate about the role of public lands in the US economy and the trade-offs between economic growth and environmental protection.
Source: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2025/03/12/burgum-says-public-lands-are-national-assets-00226766