Senate Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich on Wednesday accused Chairman Mike Lee of violating the chamber’s “precedent and protocol” when planning a confirmation hearing for Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum next week.
In a statement, Heinrich, D-N.M., said Lee, R-Utah, issued a hearing notice for January 14 despite several documents concerning Burgum remaining outstanding: a completed financial disclosure form, approval from the Interior Department’s ethics office and a completed FBI background check.
“I am extremely disappointed that Chairman Lee has scheduled the first Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee confirmation hearing over my objection and before basic information has been given to the Committee,” Heinrich said. “This is a breach of protocol and precedent, established over decades by Chairs of both parties.”
Heinrich urged Lee to reconsider his decision and said he would not consent to the notice of nomination until these documents have been submitted.
In response Lee said he has “made every effort to work with our Democratic colleagues, but we won’t give in to delays that undermine the American people’s mandate.”
“It’s time to move forward and focus on solutions that will unleash America’s full energy potential, and I hope Democrats will work with us to deliver results for the American people,” Lee said.
Lee added that Burgum submitted his paperwork to the Office of Government Ethics last week and that the committee currently has the same amount of paper as the Democratic majority did for hearings in 2009 for then-President-elect Barack Obama’s nominees.
The Trump transition has initially expressed skepticism that FBI background checks were necessary for its nominees, but agreed to them after senators, including Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said they were necessary to receive her support.
Doug Burgum previously served as the governor of North Dakota from 2016 until December. He has been one of the less controversial Trump nominees, earning praise from moderate Republicans, including Murkowski. In addition to serving as Interior secretary, which oversees the nation’s public lands, Trump said Burgum would lead a newly formed National Energy Council.
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