In a major push to restore American energy dominance, President Donald Trump has announced plans to open up millions of acres in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A) for oil and gas exploration, reversing sweeping restrictions imposed under the Biden administration.
The move, championed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, aims to roll back environmental rules that blocked access to vast energy reserves in the name of climate protection. Burgum called the Biden-era limits “unnecessary barriers” that stifled responsible development and hurt U.S. energy independence.
The NPR-A—stretching over 23 million acres—was originally set aside in 1923 as an emergency oil reserve for the U.S. Navy. However, under President Biden, more than half of it—13 million acres—was locked up as so-called “special areas,” limiting economic activity in favor of environmental priorities. Trump’s plan will lift many of those restrictions and allow leasing and exploration in areas long deemed off-limits.
Republican lawmakers and energy producers praised the decision as a common-sense course correction. They argue that America should be leading the world in domestic energy production, not begging for oil from hostile nations. With inflation still pressuring working families and global energy markets in turmoil, opening up Alaska’s reserves is seen by many as a bold step in the right direction.
“This is about American jobs, American energy, and American strength,” said one industry advocate. “President Trump is putting the interests of our workers and economy first.”
Environmental groups, as expected, slammed the announcement, accusing the administration of endangering Arctic wildlife and rolling back climate gains. But critics of the Biden-era policies argue that the real threat is forcing America into energy dependence while sitting on some of the richest untapped resources in the world.
Despite past lease sales under Biden attracting little industry interest—largely due to regulatory uncertainty and high compliance costs—Trump’s reforms are expected to reignite confidence among drillers. By cutting red tape and ending politically motivated restrictions, the administration believes the NPR-A can once again become a major engine of domestic energy output.
The policy change is part of a broader energy-first agenda by President Trump, who has already declared a national energy emergency, fast-tracked permitting for key projects, and prioritized development in strategic areas like Alaska.
The plan is currently undergoing a public comment period before full implementation. But one thing is clear: Trump’s America First energy agenda is back—and it’s drilling straight through the bureaucratic roadblocks of the past four years.