Mary Steurer, North Dakota Monitor, and Mark Olalde, ProPublica This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with the North Dakota Monitor. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published.

WASHINGTON — Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has cleared a vital step in his bid to become Interior secretary.

The former North Dakota governor told senators at his confirmation hearing that he saw limits on energy production as a national security threat.

Former President Donald Trump has chosen North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to head the Interior Department. Some things to know about the two-term Republican governor of a sparsely populated state: Burgum, 68, grew up in tiny Arthur, North Dakota. Arthur's population is 328.

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on nomination of Doug Burgum to be secretary of the interior.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (North Dakota Monitor) – During Doug Burgum’s two terms as North Dakota governor, the state repeatedly sued the U.S. Department of the Interior, attempting to rip up rules that govern federal lands in his state and across the country.

Members of the committee had the opportunity to question Burgum on an array of different topics regarding energy, mineral resources and beyond.

Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's nomination to lead a presidential Cabinet agency was advanced by a U.S. Senate committee on Thursday.