Interior staff allege secrecy and turmoil under Secretary Burgum's leadership

Long-time Interior Department employees contend that Secretary Doug Burgum has fostered a culture of secrecy and dysfunction, leading to a loss of nearly 14 percent of the workforce, including senior legal and energy officials. Former staff cite reliance on disappearing Signal messages, shredded paperwork and a fear of written records, while attributing much of the turnover to chief of staff JoDee Hanson’s management style, which some say left subordinates in tears.

The internal turmoil coincided with Burgum’s public confrontation with Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who accused the department of withholding evidence in a case about damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Pirro argues that full disclosure would have prevented a grand-jury indictment. Interior spokesperson Katie Martin labeled the allegations as anonymous and false, asserting Burgum leads with humility and curiosity, and the White House’s Karoline Leavitt praised his contributions to the administration’s energy agenda.