In Alaska, two small companies that had previously won leases ceded their rights after the latest sale. Trump's order instructs the Secretary of the Interior to grant permits for oil and gas exploration. State leaders expressed their frustrations with the obstacles to natural resource development during the Biden administration.
Alaska has been in constant struggle against what it perceives as federal interference in its natural resources. Recently, the state sued the Department of the Interior over the restrictive terms of a recent sale. Local politicians celebrated Trump's order as an opportunity to unlock Alaska's resource potential.
The order seeks to allow oil and gas drilling in sensitive areas, revoke environmental restrictions imposed by the previous administration, and facilitate logging and road construction. Despite Trump's efforts, conservation experts warn that the legality and legal resistance to these plans are likely.
Regarding the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the order seeks to overturn previous decisions that canceled oil and gas concessions. Local communities have felt the effects of climate change and oppose the expansion of fossil fuel development in the region, citing climate and environmental concerns.
In a context where global warming is a concern, Trump's order has generated controversy. While political leaders in Alaska see this order as a possibility to boost the economy, environmental and conservation groups warn of the long-term negative impacts. Legal challenges and opposition from Indigenous communities mark the current landscape in Alaska regarding its future development.