The Trump administration announced new actions to open Alaskan wilderness for energy and infrastructure expansion, including oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Officials outlined several policy changes affecting the vast refuge, home to polar bears, Porcupine caribou, migratory birds, and other species.
The Interior Department confirmed it will reopen the full 1.56-million-acre Coastal Plain of the ANWR for leasing, overturning restrictions imposed by the Biden administration. Lawmakers and tribal corporations in Alaska support drilling for jobs and revenue, while environmentalists push to protect the fragile ecosystem.
Officials Highlight Energy Independence and Growth
The ANWR spans 19 million acres of untouched wilderness without roads or public structures. Its coastal plain near the Beaufort Sea could hold up to 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated that President Trump directed his team to unlock Alaska’s energy potential while supporting local communities. Burgum said reopening the Coastal Plain and improving infrastructure will strengthen energy independence, create jobs, and drive economic growth across the state.
The department will also reinstate canceled oil and gas leases for the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state agency that participated in the ANWR’s first drilling rights auction during Trump’s first term.
Reactions Divide Lawmakers and Environmentalists
The Biden administration canceled seven leases in 2023, but a federal judge ruled earlier this year that the cancellation exceeded government authority. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy praised the decision, calling it historic and crediting Trump for keeping promises to the state.
The move aligns with Trump’s pledge to expand domestic energy production, though oil companies have shown limited interest in ANWR development. Last year, Biden’s Interior Department received no energy company bids when offering 400,000 acres for lease, the minimum required under a 2017 tax law.
Environmental groups criticized the decision. Kristen Miller, executive director of the Alaska Wilderness League, warned that opening the entire coastal plain would destroy one of the world’s most ecologically vital landscapes.
