By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Payton May joined Tucson Now’s Makayla Goos on the desk to preview her full length interview with top White House official, Secratary of Interior Doug Burgum.
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In the exclusive interview in withMay this week, Burgum dismissed Gov. Katie Hobbs’ decision to join Nevada in suing over Colorado River management, calling the litigation unhelpful and unlikely to succeed.
Burgum said the seven Basin states, plus tribes and Mexico, already have an agreement covering water distribution for the next two years to protect critical infrastructure including Hoover Dam and Glen Canyon Dam, power generation, and deliveries. He argued the suit could be thrown out for lack of demonstrated injury, as it centers on theoretical cuts three years out, and warned litigation “doesn’t create more water.” For Arizona, which holds among the most junior water rights, he said keeping the issue out of court is in the state’s best interest.
Burgum pointed to more than $3 billion invested by the administration in Lower Basin water infrastructure since 2025, including over $600 million for Arizona, and said last year’s historically low snowpack left Lake Powell at its lowest level since filling began in the 1960s. With an El Niño expected to bring heavier rain and snow this year, he said a larger water “pie” in year three of the 10-year framework could allow for more favorable allocations, and that innovation like desalination — not regulation — will solve long-term shortages.
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On data centers, which face strong opposition in Tucson and Pima County, Burgum said developers must listen to local zoning concerns but pushed back on water-use fears, saying modern facilities using closed-loop glycol cooling use virtually no water. Calling data centers “manufacturing intelligence,” he said they have low traffic impacts and touted the White House Ratepayer Protection Plan requiring companies to bring their own power. He also warned of foreign influence stoking opposition amid the AI arms race with China, and noted Arizona’s hot climate puts it at a cooling-cost disadvantage to northern states and Alaska.
The visit also highlighted Arizona mining, with copper recently re-added to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Critical Minerals list. Noting China controls 85-100% of the top 20 critical minerals, he argued U.S. mining is cleaner and essential for national security, phones, cars and appliances. He cited President Trump’s first-ever White House event for mining schools, including $180 million for 14 schools of mines — $20 million for the University of Arizona — plus $3 million championed by Rep. Juan Ciscomani.
Asked about a possible federal gas tax suspension to help truckers and farmers, he said President Trump is exploring every idea to lower prices but acknowledged it would require congressional action. Burgum pointed instead to U.S. energy dominance as the world’s top oil and natural gas producer, and $8 billion in newly announced agriculture relief to lower fuel and food costs.
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Watch the full interview and conversation above.