On June 1, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin arrived in Alaska as part of a high-stakes mission to revive fossil fuel drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and fast-track a multibillion-dollar LNG pipeline. The visit, framed by President Donald Trump's recent executive order expediting oil, gas and mining in Alaska, underscores the administration's commitment to energy independence, export-driven economic growth, and sovereignty over federal lands. While state leaders and pro-development Indigenous groups hail the decision as a lifeline for Alaska's faltering economy, environmentalists and Gwich'in tribal leaders decry the move as an assault on fragile ecosystems and Indigenous sovereignty.

Controversial leases and legal reversals

The current push comes amid unresolved tensions over leasing in ANWR, a 19-million-acre preserve authorized for drilling under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Biden administration's 2024 cancellation of leases sold under Trump was ruled unlawful by a federal court in March 2025, forcing the Department of the Interior to reinstate the lease program. The case, Tribal Energy & Mineral Council v. Haaland, highlighted Alaska's long-standing frustration with perceived federal overreach. Meanwhile, the stalled LNG pipeline—proposed after the North Slope's Willow oil project boosted production—faces skepticism over its $44 billion price tag and competition from global energy markets.

For Alaska, the stakes are existential. The state faces a $3 billion budget shortfall due in part to falling oil prices, its dominant revenue source. Proponents argue that expanding drilling and pipelines will stabilize finances while positioning Alaska as a global energy leader. "This is not just about energy—it's about national security," Burgum stated during a roundtable in Anchorage, framing LNG exports as a counterweight to foreign energy dominance.

Survival vs. stewardship

The debate pits Indigenous communities against one another. The Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat, representing the predominantly pro-development North Slope Iñupiat, welcomed the federal delegation's visit. Nagruk Harcharek, the group's president, called it a "step in the right direction," citing Arctic Slope Regional Corp.'s economic reliance on oil production. Historically, Iñupiat leadership has advocated for drilling as a means to secure jobs and fund infrastructure.