The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota, as President Donald Trump's interior secretary. The vote was 79-18. Burgum, 68, will lead an agency that guides the use of 202 million hectares of federal and tribal land, a fifth of the nation's surface area.

Emails obtained by the Associated Press reveal Doug Burgum as North Dakota governor aided oil and gas executives and leveraged connections to boost his profile.

The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to confirm former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the Department of Interior. During his confirmation hearing, Burgum emphasized a commitment to advancing U.S. energy production in President Donald Trump’s administration.