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BumRushDaShow

(165,177 posts)
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 03:43 PM Apr 2025

Interior Department staff's unusual demands -- like freshly baked chocolate chip cookies -- have 'alarmed' officials

Source: The Independent

Monday 07 April 2025 19:06 BST


Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his staff have reportedly used his position leading the agency to make a series of bizarre demands from his staff — including that they bake fresh chocolate-chip cookies, according to a report.

Burgum and his senior staff have asked his aides to use the agency’s industrial ovens to cook 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 personal transport, according to The Atlantic.

One time, his staff even ordered staff to remake a batch of chocolate chip cookies because they were subpar, the outlet reports, citing three people. One source described the secretary as “Doug the Diva,” while another said the behavior is alarming White House officials. Political appointees have also been seen crying as a result of the demands placed on them, according to The Atlantic.

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

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/burgum-interior-cookies-helicopter-report-b2728962.html



Link to The Atlantic article - The Cabinet Secretary Who Wants His Cookies Freshly Baked
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Interior Department staff's unusual demands -- like freshly baked chocolate chip cookies -- have 'alarmed' officials (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Apr 2025 OP
Like royalty. N/T luvallpeeps Apr 2025 #1
Yep. They all think they're kings. Scrivener7 Apr 2025 #2
and laws/rules are for suckers and losers? Evolve Dammit Apr 2025 #6
And everyone is here to serve them. May they get all they deserve. Scrivener7 Apr 2025 #8
More like Looney Tunes. Magoo48 Apr 2025 #32
What are they? Pre-schoolers? They need their "snack time"? AllyCat Apr 2025 #3
Yes, pre-schoolers, but throw in a bit of hormonal "incel" behaviour too muriel_volestrangler Apr 2025 #29
Here's some fraud, waste, and abuse IronLionZion Apr 2025 #4
"just plain weird." Evolve Dammit Apr 2025 #5
Instead of chocolate chips, use ex-lax. Talitha Apr 2025 #7
What a great idea Deminpenn Apr 2025 #17
Or take a cue from the movie "The Help" johnnyfins Apr 2025 #19
Remember Ex-Lax brownies? Marthe48 Apr 2025 #33
JFC ButchMcMuffin Apr 2025 #9
Obviously these people can't take the pressure Baitball Blogger Apr 2025 #10
Does he also require belly rubs? Buddyzbuddy Apr 2025 #11
What's the matter, Doug? Can't read directions? tanyev Apr 2025 #12
That settles it... Ollie Garkie Apr 2025 #13
The Twilight Zone. louis-t Apr 2025 #14
But which episode? To Serve Cookies? thought crime Apr 2025 #20
How could anyone be worse than Zinke was? Now we have the answer. Ford_Prefect Apr 2025 #15
Well, at least he didn't ask for his own flag and commemorative coin ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2025 #16
This is the kind of crazy shit you hear about 18 months - 2 years into an admin Prairie Gates Apr 2025 #18
They were collected for this pupose by those who brought Trump to the fore. Ford_Prefect Apr 2025 #24
That was so... 2naSalit Apr 2025 #25
If I was made to bake those cookies, I'd put salt in instead of sugar. LisaL Apr 2025 #21
Arsenic AverageOldGuy Apr 2025 #23
Chocolate exlax chips UpInArms Apr 2025 #30
Hmmm. Demanding the staff bake chocolate chip cookies for him?? AverageOldGuy Apr 2025 #22
Kraznov has hired the perfect man Hassler Apr 2025 #26
Geez Figarosmom Apr 2025 #27
Personal Servitude is an abuse of power. BidenRocks Apr 2025 #28
New show on the Food Network mdbl Apr 2025 #31

AllyCat

(18,464 posts)
3. What are they? Pre-schoolers? They need their "snack time"?
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 03:48 PM
Apr 2025

These pricks are complete losers. Lazy, freeloading, idiots.

The Senate is right to block every freaking appointment for anything until this insanity stops.

muriel_volestrangler

(105,496 posts)
29. Yes, pre-schoolers, but throw in a bit of hormonal "incel" behaviour too
Tue Apr 8, 2025, 04:14 AM
Apr 2025

That's how you get them boasting about an "Energy Dominance agenda", but blaming "unnamed cowards" for being against it.

Maybe Cartman from South Park is the closest compromise.

Baitball Blogger

(51,636 posts)
10. Obviously these people can't take the pressure
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 04:23 PM
Apr 2025

And need a sugar rush.

Be prepared for the freshman 15.

Buddyzbuddy

(2,049 posts)
11. Does he also require belly rubs?
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 05:16 PM
Apr 2025

Does he have a designated taste tester, because otherwise.....

Ollie Garkie

(332 posts)
13. That settles it...
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 05:39 PM
Apr 2025

If I ever get to be henchman of a dictator, this is what I'm demanding, too. Anyone else? Come on admit it! Am I kidding? I don't know.

eppur_se_muova

(40,865 posts)
16. Well, at least he didn't ask for his own flag and commemorative coin ...
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 06:55 PM
Apr 2025

that was in the first Turnip maladministration.

Prairie Gates

(7,131 posts)
18. This is the kind of crazy shit you hear about 18 months - 2 years into an admin
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 08:44 PM
Apr 2025

Not ten weeks.

They're all deeply disturbed people. They found each other.

And us.

Ford_Prefect

(8,501 posts)
24. They were collected for this pupose by those who brought Trump to the fore.
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 11:43 PM
Apr 2025

They didn't find each other. They were assembled for the task of dismantling our government, and our culture, by those who hide from the light because they cannot stand the complex nature of human existence.

2naSalit

(99,711 posts)
25. That was so...
Tue Apr 8, 2025, 12:37 AM
Apr 2025

Last time they darkened the halls of the WH. Don't forget the last batch of wackjobs and ne'er do wells from teh commerce sec's velvet slippers and long naps and limousine motorcades just to go across town. And then there was that fuckwad, what was his name? Oh yeah, that shithead zinke who had to resign due to all the lawsuits against him, rode into DC on a horse, that horse sure look weird with that ass in the saddle... the most disgusting part is that he came back to Montana and helped turn it into magatana while also becoming my US House Rep.. I will hate him through eternity for that as should all living creatures on this planet.

But I digress...

They're just picking up where they left off last time.

AverageOldGuy

(3,279 posts)
22. Hmmm. Demanding the staff bake chocolate chip cookies for him??
Mon Apr 7, 2025, 11:41 PM
Apr 2025

If I were asked to bake chocolate chip cookies for him, I'd smile and get on with it. Of course, he had better have someone else sample them first . . . you know, like the medieval kings had an official food taster to check for . . . . .

BidenRocks

(2,697 posts)
28. Personal Servitude is an abuse of power.
Tue Apr 8, 2025, 03:08 AM
Apr 2025

While the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) doesn't explicitly mention "personal servitude," the concept of a service member being forced to perform personal tasks for another, especially a superior officer, is considered a serious issue that can lead to disciplinary action under Article 134 (general article) and Article 133 (conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman)

There has to be a similar rule to remove him.

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