President Donald Trump has approved a sweeping plan to reopen a key section of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas drilling.
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on Oct. 23 that it will reopen the 1.56-million-acre coastal plain of the refuge for leasing. The Biden administration had blocked activity in the area to preserve wildlife habitats. Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20 to reinstate the leasing program.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the decision reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthen domestic energy supply. “By reopening the Coastal Plain and advancing key infrastructure, we are strengthening energy independence, creating jobs and supporting Alaska’s communities while driving economic growth across the state,” he said.
The plan paves the way for lease sales in one of the country’s most contested areas for development. The region is considered sacred by Gwich’in Indigenous communities. It is also home to migratory birds, polar bears, and caribou herds.
The move also restores oil and gas leases to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority. A court ruling earlier this year found that the Biden administration had unlawfully canceled seven leases issued during Trump’s first term. Under the new decision, those leases will be reinstated.
The Interior Department has also approved permits for the Ambler Road Project. This is a 211-mile industrial road in Alaska that would allow access to copper and cobalt deposits. Burgum also finalized a land exchange with the King Cove Corporation.
The deal enables the construction of an 11-mile road linking King Cove and Cold Bay. Supporters say the road will give residents vital access to Cold Bay’s all-weather airport.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy praised the administration for its actions. “The land transfer for the King Cove Road will save lives, economic opportunities will be unlocked in the Ambler Mining District and ANWR’s Coastal Plain, and Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans will finally receive land allotments they were promised,” he said.
The administration has also issued land certificates to three Alaska Native veterans. Each veteran received 160-acre plots under a federal allotment program.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups. Sierra Club director Dan Ritzman said the move prioritizes corporate profits over environmental protection. “These decisions will collectively wreak havoc on fragile Alaska ecosystems in the most disruptive way possible, causing long-term environmental damage, all to boost the bottom lines of CEOs,” he said.
The Wilderness Society and other conservation groups echoed similar concerns. They warned of legal challenges and argued the projects threaten Indigenous lands and fragile ecosystems.
Not all Indigenous voices oppose the development. The Inupiaq community in Kaktovik, located inside the refuge, has expressed support. Kaktovik Inupiat Corporation president Charles “CC” Lampe said it was “encouraging to see decision makers in Washington advancing policies that respect our voice and support Kaktovik’s long term success.”
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski has also backed the King Cove road project. She described it as a single-lane gravel road that will provide essential access without heavy industrial traffic.
Trump’s decision fulfills a long-standing Republican goal to expand domestic energy production in Alaska. The administration says the project will create jobs, strengthen energy security, and increase federal revenue. Environmental activists are preparing lawsuits. The legal fight over Alaska’s oil-rich wilderness is far from over.