In a decisive step toward restoring American energy independence, the Trump administration on Monday reportedly formally revoked three Biden-era policies that had curtailed development in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A). The move reestablishes a pro-growth stance on energy and signals a shift from environmental restriction to energy security and economic opportunity, especially for Alaskans.
The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it had withdrawn policies that had slowed or halted the state’s ability to access its own natural resources.
The now-rescinded measures included a report focused on “maximizing protection” in the reserve, a memorandum outlining “special areas” off-limits to development, and a broad request for information that had served as a de facto pause on leasing activity.
“Alaska’s resource potential has been held hostage for years by anti-development ideologues,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “The Trump administration is delivering certainty for industry, opportunity for Alaskans and real energy security for the American people. We are committed to putting development back at the center of land management where it belongs.”
The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, a vast expanse of federal land spanning 23 million acres on Alaska’s North Slope, was originally set aside for oil and gas production by Congress during the 1970s energy crisis. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the reserve contains billions of barrels of untapped oil — a critical strategic resource that the Trump administration sees as essential to long-term national security.
Former President Biden imposed sweeping restrictions on drilling and exploration across the region, effectively placing nearly half of the reserve off-limits. While framed as conservation efforts, the policies were widely criticized by industry leaders, local communities, and free market advocates as short-sighted and economically harmful.
The new administration’s reversal aligns with President Trump’s inaugural-day executive order prioritizing energy development in Alaska.
The decision was met with applause from native Alaskan leaders, many of whom rely on oil and gas revenues to support essential services in remote communities. Biden’s restrictions, they argued, jeopardized not only energy infrastructure but also the economic stability of their people.
Trump’s approach marks a sharp departure from the previous administration’s regulatory regime.
While the Biden White House emphasized limiting carbon emissions and preserving wilderness areas, the Trump administration has taken a more pragmatic stance — one that sees responsible development as compatible with stewardship and sovereignty.
The Interior Department characterized the now-repealed policies as “burdensome restrictions” that had stifled investment and delayed essential projects. Their removal is expected to spark new interest from energy companies eager to invest in domestic production.
As global energy markets remain volatile and foreign regimes wield increasing influence over supply and pricing, the administration’s actions in Alaska signal a clear priority: putting American resources — and American workers — back to work.
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