Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has announced plans to consolidate a wide range of administrative functions currently handled by individual bureaus and offices, placing in charge a former representative of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to make key decisions.
In a Secretarial Order issued on April 17, 2025, Burgum stated that the Department “will be unifying and consolidating many of its functions within the Office of the Secretary,” including contracting, federal grants, human resources, IT, training and development, international affairs, and communications, among other functions. Burgum stated that these changes “will create significant efficiencies across the Department by improving processes, eliminating redundant efforts, and helping integrate technology adoption.”
In the Order, Burgum placed the Assistant Secretary of Policy, Management and Budget (AS-PMB) in charge of the consolidation. The AS-PMB role is currently filled by Tyler Hassen, a former oil company executive who, according to news reports, first came to Interior earlier this year as a representative of DOGE. Although the AS-PMB position is one that is subject to Presidential nomination and Senate conformation, Burgum named Hassan to the role in March.
Under the Secretarial Order, Burgum gives the AS-PMB “all authority necessary to carry out the plan.” The AS-PMB is “directed to take all necessary actions” to put the consolidation plan into place, including making funding decisions; issuing policy, directives and guidance; and “taking required personnel actions.”
Contracts and grant funding from the Interior Department and its subsidiaries include significant activities related to cultural resource management and historic preservation, including contracts for Section 106 reviews, monies that go to SHPOs and THPOs, and funding that supports a wide range of preservation activities across the country.
ACRA is reviewing the Secretarial Order and working with its allies in the preservation community to assess next steps.