Four more of Donald Trump’s nominees have confirmation hearings today after senators have grilled Pam Bondi and Pete Hegseth this week
Doug Burgum, Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the interior department, will tell senators at his confirmation hearing today that he supports expanding oil and gas drilling on public lands, Reuters reports.
That will mark a reversal from Joe Biden’s attempts to stop petroleum exploration on public lands as part of his administration’s strategy to reduce the United States’s carbon emissions. Here’s more on what Burgum will promise, from Reuters:
The comments signal a coming sharp turn in policy after President Joe Biden attempted for years to restrict oil and gas drilling by reducing federal lease auctions and banning future development in vast areas of federal offshore waters as part of a strategy to fight climate change.
“Today, America produces energy cleaner, smarter and safer than anywhere in the world. When energy production is restricted in America, it doesn’t reduce demand, it just shifts production to countries like Russia, Venezuela, and Iran – whose autocratic leaders don’t care about the environment,” Burgum will tell lawmakers, according to his prepared remarks.
Joe Biden is continuing his presidential farewell, with a ceremony for defense department staff at 2pm. He delivered a goodbye address to the nation yesterday evening.
The House of Representatives will vote on the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, another Republican-authored bill aimed at undocumented immigrants. This one is targeted at migrants convicted of domestic violence, sexual abuse and related crimes.
The Gaza ceasefire deal requires approval by Israel’s cabinet, but a last-minute dispute is holding that up. Follow our live blog for more.
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