The Trump administration's Bureau of Land Management has rescinded a Biden-era restriction on oil and gas extraction in the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska (NPR-A). More of Alaska's North Slope is now ready and open for "drill, baby, drill."
As is so often the case, Must Read Alaska's Suzanne Downing has the news.
The Department of the Interior announced Monday that it has rescinded three policy documents that placed new restrictions on development within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
The decision, issued by the Bureau of Land Management, reverses guidance from the Biden administration that sought to expand protections for “special areas” of the NPR-A. The Trump administration characterized those previous efforts as overly restrictive and inconsistent with the intent of Congress.
The rescinded documents include:
- A 2024 Request for Information titled Special Areas within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska,
- A January 2025 report titled Maximizing Protection in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska, and
- A BLM memorandum issued the same month titled Interim Management of Special Areas within the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska.
The national government has treated Alaska like a gigantic national park for long enough; it's time to recognize the Great Land for what it is, a treasure trove. Mineral resources, energy resources, metals, rare earths - we have it all. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum seems to agree.
“Alaska’s resource potential has been held hostage for years by anti-development ideologues,” said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “The Trump administration is delivering certainty for industry, opportunity for Alaskans, and real energy security for the American people.”
The decision follows directives outlined in Executive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422, both titled “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential.” The administration said the move is consistent with broader energy policies that seek to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and prioritize the responsible use of domestic resources.
The North Slope communities, overwhelmingly Alaska natives, routinely oppose restrictions on development, as these are the only jobs available in that remote country. That's why they seem to be the only "people of color" that Democrats don't care about.
Read More: What's in the OBBB for Alaskan Energy?
The Big, Beautiful Bill Has Some Surprising Benefits for Alaska
The Trump administration is making big strides on the energy front, and Alaska is and will be a major part of that. Alaska is also a place of enormous strategic value, perched as it is atop the Great Circle air and shipping lanes from America's West Coast to Asia.
This is a big thing for the United States and, for the rest of the world as well. Energy is fungible, and increasing supply will drive down prices.
Energy is at the crux of everything, economically. A prosperous society depends, utterly, on abundant, reliable, and affordable energy. With natural gas, we can have clean energy, too. We could have even cleaner and possibly cheaper energy with nuclear energy, too, but that will take even longer to start up. What's more, we're not even sure about the total extent of the NPR-A and ANWR reserves.
The NPR-A, spanning 23 million acres on Alaska’s North Slope, is believed to contain significant untapped oil and gas reserves. While some areas have long been designated for conservation, others have been open to leasing, subject to environmental safeguards.
Here in Alaska, lots of people are looking at the North Slope and seeing jobs. That’s a good thing all by itself.
Drill, baby, drill!
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