Interior Department employees’s uncommon calls for — like freshly baked chocolate chip cookies — have ‘alarmed’ officers | EUROtoday

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his employees have reportedly used his place main the company to make a sequence of weird calls for from his employees — together with that they bake contemporary chocolate-chip cookies, in response to a report.

Burgum and his senior employees have requested his aides to make use of the company’s industrial ovens to prepare dinner him chocolate chip cookies, instructed political appointees to work as servers for a multi-course meal and ordered a U.S. Park Police helicopter for private transport, in response to The Atlantic.

One time, his employees even ordered employees to remake a batch of chocolate chip cookies as a result of they have been subpar, the outlet experiences, citing three individuals.

One supply described the secretary as “Doug the Diva,” whereas one other mentioned the conduct is alarming White House officers. Political appointees have additionally been seen crying because of the calls for positioned on them, in response to The Atlantic.

Interior Department spokesperson Katie Martin known as the claims “pathetic smears” from “unnamed cowards who don’t know Doug Burgum and are trying to stop President Trump’s Energy Dominance agenda.”

“Everyone knows Secretary Burgum always leads with gratitude and is humbly working with President Trump,” Martin informed The Atlantic.

Two nameless Interior officers equally pushed again in opposition to the claims, telling The Atlantic the cookies are supplied as hospitality for guests and the helicopter journey was organized by his safety element.

“He’s not demanding cookies, he’s not demanding a helicopter,” an Interior Department official mentioned. “It is antithetical to diva behavior.”

The White House additionally denied claims that Burgum’s conduct is sparking concern.

“Only The Atlantic could spin baking warm cookies for guests as a bad thing. Cold-hearted people!” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly informed The Atlantic. “Secretary Burgum is doing an outstanding job leading the Department of Interior.”

The White House additionally mentioned it was “disappointed” that The Independent the place sharing the small print of the Atlantic report.

The Senate confirmed Burgum, a MAGA loyalist, earlier this yr in a 79-18 vote. More than half of Senate Democrats joined Republicans in voting sure on Burgum. He beforehand served as North Dakota’s governor from 2016 to 2024.

Burgum has confronted criticism for huge cuts to parks providers throughout the nation as a part of the administration’s efforts to slash the federal workforce.

Despite this, Burgum has directed that National Parks “remain open and accessible” and says his division will guarantee correct staffing to take action, in response to the Associated Press.

The article was amended to raised mirror the character of the Interior Department’s alleged requests.