BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — In less than two months, Governor Doug Burgum is expected to take a new job in Washington, D.C. As we reported on KX News, last week at a gathering in Florida, Donald Trump announced that Burgum would serve as his Secretary of the Interior for the next four years. "You know, you leave a meeting and they say 'Don't tell anyone, this isn't going to be announced until tomorrow,' and then you're in a ballroom with a thousand people, and all of a sudden he starts talking about, you know, the announcement," Burgum said with a laugh. Burgum had joined Donald Trump and others for a gathering at Mar a Lago, Florida last week when Trump mentioned Burgum during a speech. NDGF warns hunters about early ice conditions The Interior Secretary oversees public lands, the environment, energy as well as the federal government's relationship with Native American tribes. "The 7,000-person organization that touches over 540 million acres of land with some very important missions including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education," Gov. Burgum said. "I know from my time as governor that across all of these agencies, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, national parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, big opportunities, but also some big challenges." If confirmed by the Senate, Burgum would become the first person from North Dakota to serve on a presidential cabinet since former Governor Ed Schafer was named Secretary of Agriculture by President George W. Bush in 2008. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW