Interior Department Announces Sweeping Alaska Initiatives to Enhance Energy and Infrastructure

The U.S. Department of the Interior has unveiled a comprehensive set of initiatives designed to strategically expand energy development, modernize the management of land and resources, and significantly improve public health and safety across the state of Alaska. The announcement, delivered during a key event attended by Alaska’s congressional delegation and the Governor, details several major actions that collectively aim to reduce regulatory barriers, empower local communities, and strengthen Alaska’s crucial role in national energy security and economic growth.

A pivotal decision involves the reopening of the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas leasing, a move that reverses the prior administration’s restrictions imposed in 2024. This record of decision now reopens $1.56$ million acres of the Coastal Plain for development, aligning with Executive Order 14153, Secretarial Order 3422, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Furthermore, the Interior Department is reinstating leases to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) that had been previously canceled, enabling development activities to immediately resume.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum commented on the scope of the decision, stating that President Trump directed the Department "to unlock Alaska’s energy and resource potential while honoring commitments to the state and local communities." He affirmed that by reopening the Coastal Plain and advancing key infrastructure, the administration is "strengthening energy independence, creating jobs and supporting Alaska’s communities while driving economic growth across the state.”

Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a call for nominations to identify tracts for inclusion in an upcoming oil and gas lease sale within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska , which is scheduled for this winter. This event will mark the first lease sale in the $23$-million-acre reserve since 2019.

Following the President’s approval of AIDEA’s appeal, the BLM and National Park Service have taken steps to reissued right-of-way permits for the Ambler Road Project, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also granting its requisite permit. In a related action, the Department has officially conveyed nearly 23,600 acres near Ambler to the State of Alaska, finalizing the state’s land selections in the area. This combined action is designed to enhance local control over land use, support resource development, and bolster economic opportunities for the region.

A crucial decision was also made regarding the Izembek and King Cove Land Exchange. After decades of advocacy by the King Cove community for a reliable road connection to the Cold Bay airport, the Department has finalized a land exchange to establish the King Cove–Cold Bay corridor. This move, which includes issuing an official land patent to the King Corporation, is intended to dramatically improve emergency medical access for the residents, increase subsistence access, while simultaneously expanding wilderness protections and safeguarding vital wildlife habitat within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.

Finally, the Department announced critical progress in delivering land allotments to eligible Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans who were unable to claim land due to their military service. During the event, the BLM awarded Certificates of Allotment—each granting 160 acres—to three Alaska Native Vietnam veterans under the authority of the 2019 Dingell Act. The application window for this important program remains open until December 29, 2025. Collectively, these actions underscore the Trump administration’s commitment to responsible resource development, local empowerment, and the fulfillment of federal obligations, ultimately aiming to expand domestic energy production and strengthen Alaska’s role in securing America’s energy future.