Trump Proposes Major Alaska Oil Reserve Expansion

The Trump administration has proposed reopening up to 82% of Alaska's 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A) for oil and gas leasing, reversing Biden-era restrictions meant to protect wildlife and indigenous communities. The Department of the Interior’s draft analysis supports this expansion as part of a strategy for energy dominance, job creation, and reducing U.S. reliance on foreign oil. The move aims to maximize Alaska’s resource potential and streamline regulations, following Trump administration executive orders and policy changes. The proposal would rescind a 2024 rule that limited leasing in much of the reserve and is currently open for public comment. Conservation groups warn the plan could worsen climate change and threaten the livelihoods of Alaska Native communities and wildlife. The NPR-A has been a focal point in U.S. energy policy since the 1920s, balancing resource development with environmental protection.