US Interior Official Opposes 'Electric Vehicle Support' in IRA... Energy Hegemony Is Key to Security

Doug Burgum, the nominee for Secretary of the Interior in Donald Trump's second U.S. administration, clearly opposed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which includes electric vehicle tax credits, during his confirmation hearing on the 16th (local time). He also emphasized that "energy dominance" is central to U.S. security and announced aggressive energy production measures such as lifting drilling restrictions.

AP Yonhap News

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At the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee confirmation hearing, Burgum stated that he would realize the so-called "energy dominance" vision declared by President-elect Trump. He plans to overturn the Biden administration’s energy policies, which included drilling restrictions to address climate change, and to actively promote fossil fuels.

Burgum, who served twice as governor of North Dakota, argued that despite the U.S. producing more oil than any other country and being the world’s largest natural gas exporter, it is currently facing an energy crisis. He said, "Even if energy production is restricted in the U.S., energy demand does not decrease. Production simply shifts to countries like Russia, Venezuela, and Iran," adding, "The dictators there have no concern for the environment and use the profits from energy sales to fund wars against us and our allies."

Burgum is expected to play a key role in implementing President-elect Trump’s "Drill, Baby, Drill" agenda in the second administration. This includes oil and gas drilling, natural gas development, and fossil fuel promotion. The Trump team’s plan is to reduce energy prices while preventing adversaries from funding wars through energy exports. Burgum emphasized, "The American people have clearly placed their trust in President Trump’s energy dominance vision. This is the foundation of America’s prosperity, economy, and security."

He criticized electric vehicle support policies. Burgum pointed out that the IRA, considered a major legislative achievement of the Biden administration, was passed at a time when China controls 85% of the world’s key mineral resources used in electric vehicle production, stating, "We are in a cold war and cyber war with China, and North Korea and Russia provoke daily, yet this increases dependence on major adversaries." He argued that this is a flawed support policy that inevitably raises reliance on Chinese minerals.

Regarding whether federal support should be provided unconditionally to Los Angeles (LA), where large wildfires are difficult to control, Burgum responded, "It depends on the situation." Earlier, Republican lawmakers argued that such support should be contingent on policy changes by the California state government, to which Governor Gavin Newsom strongly opposed.

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