Democrats on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources are seeking to postpone the confirmation hearing of Doug Burgum, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of the Interior. The top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Martin Heinrich, along with his colleagues, have requested a one-week delay for the hearing, citing the lack of essential documents, including Burgum's financial disclosures.
Despite the Democrats' request, Chair Mike Lee has the authority to set the hearing date unilaterally. As of now, the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Heinrich has criticized Lee for not obtaining minority consent before scheduling Burgum's confirmation hearing. He accused Lee of disregarding established protocol and precedent by moving forward with the meeting against his objections.
In response, Lee defended his decision by stating that Burgum has already submitted all required paperwork and that the committee will receive feedback from the department's ethics office before the hearing takes place.
The clash between Democrats and Republicans on the committee underscores the tensions surrounding Burgum's confirmation process and highlights the differing perspectives on the handling of essential documentation and procedural norms.
