WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, his pick to lead the Interior Department, will also lead a newly created National Energy Council that will seek to establish America’s “energy dominance” around the world.

In his new role, Burgum will oversee a panel that crosses all executive agencies involved in energy licensing, production, generation, distribution, regulation and transportation, Trump said in a statement. As chairman of the National Energy Council, Burgum will have a seat on the National Security Council, Trump said.

“This Council will oversee the path to America’s ENERGY DOMINANCE by cutting red tape, increasing private sector investment in all sectors of the economy, and by focusing on INNOVATION over long-standing, but totally unnecessary, regulation,” Trump wrote.

The Republican president-elect accused the “radical left” of engaging in a war on American energy, in the name of fighting climate change. His policy of energy dominance, which he also championed in his first term, will allow the United States to sell oil, gas and other forms of energy to European allies, making the world safer, Trump said.

Trump’s policy, if adopted, would represent an almost complete reversal from actions taken by Democratic President Joe Biden, who has made the fight against climate change a top priority and has pushed for more electric vehicles and stricter regulation of carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants. Trump has promised to withdraw unused funds Biden’s landmark climate and health care bill and stop offshore wind power development when he returns to the White House in January.

Trump, who has called oil “liquid gold,” said oil and natural gas, along with minerals such as lithium and copper, should be exploited to the fullest extent possible. “We will ‘DRILL BABY DRILL’, expand ALL forms of energy production to grow our economy and create good paying jobs,” Trump wrote.

Burgum, 68, was elected governor of North Dakota in 2016, his first campaign for elected office. A former software executive, he led Great Plains Software, which Microsoft acquired for $1.1 billion in 2001. Burgum has also led other real estate development and venture capital companies.

Burgum, a Republican, has adopted a pro-business style as governor of a state where agriculture and oil are the main industries. He is pushed income tax cuts, reduced regulations, and changes in animal husbandry laws and governance of higher education. Burgum also emphasized a “data-driven” approach to governance, which was advocated for a Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in the state and prioritized engagement with tribal nations.

He ran for president in 2023, but dropped out after his bid failed to resonate. He later endorsed Trump.

Industry groups welcomed Burgum to the new administration, saying Trump’s creation of an energy council signaled renewed emphasis on stimulating domestic production and streamlining regulations.

Burgum’s “deep understanding of U.S. energy resources and public lands positions him to address critical issues such as improving energy affordability … and strengthening the United States in the global energy market,” said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association, which promotes offshore drilling Milito is a former vice president of the American Petroleum Institute, the industry’s top lobbying group.

David Seabrook, president of The Wilderness Society, called Burgum “a longtime friend of fossil fuel interests” who played a role in an April event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort where Trump reportedly asked industry leaders and lobbyists to donate $1 billion to his campaignwith the expectation that he would reduce environmental regulations if re-elected.

“The first Trump administration treated (public lands) as if they were meant to be dug up, drilled or sold for profit,” Seabrook said. “Governor Burgum’s long record of pushing for unchecked fossil fuel development sends a loud signal about which path they will take this time.”

Earlier Friday, Trump announced that Steven Cheung will serve as his White House communications director and Sergio Gor will lead the staff office. Both are long-time advisors.

Cheung led communications for Trump’s last campaign, where he gained a reputation for combative and insulting attacks on the Republican’s opponents. Born in Sacramento, California, he worked in Republican politics and for the Ultimate Fighting Championship before joining Trump’s team in 2016.

Gor ran Winning Team Publishing, which he started with Donald Trump Jr. The company has published books by Trump and his allies. Gor also led the super PAC Right for America.