Felicity Bradstock
Felicity Bradstock is a freelance writer specialising in Energy and Finance. She has a Master’s in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK.
More Info
Premium Content
By Felicity Bradstock – Aug 16, 2025, 2:00 PM CDT
- The Trump administration plans to double Alaska’s oil output and expand drilling across 82% of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, reversing environmental protections.
- Supporters cite economic benefits, energy independence, and Alaska’s reliance on oil revenue, while opponents warn of irreversible damage to Arctic ecosystems and Indigenous communities.
- Environmentalists argue the move undermines global climate goals, with new projects potentially operating for decades beyond the 2050 net-zero target.
Since coming into office, United States President Donald Trump has doubled down on his “Drill, baby, drill” statement by opening federal land for licensing and encouraging oil and gas companies to increase production. One state Trump has set his sights on is Alaska, an area where oil operations have become increasingly more controversial in recent years due to concerns over environmental degradation.
President Trump hopes to double the quantity of crude moving through Alaska’s pipelines, as well as construct a giant gas project, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said during a tour of Prudhoe Bay oilfield in June. “Let’s double oil production, build the big, beautiful twin, and we will help energise the world and we will strengthen our country and strengthen our families,” stated Wright.
That same month, the Department of the Interior announced plans to repeal Biden-era restrictions on the licensing and development of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, which was designated as a protected wildlife reserve. The agency argued that the Biden-era rule was inconsistent with the 1976 Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, which allowed for oil and gas leasing in the area.
“Congress was clear: the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska was set aside to support America’s energy security through responsible development,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “The 2024 rule ignored that mandate, prioritising obstruction over production and undermining our ability to harness domestic resources at a time when American energy independence has never been more critical.”
Following the initial announcement, the public was given the opportunity to comment, during which time around 250,000 people responded. However, in July, the Interior Department confirmed it would be revoking three documents that had been aimed at limiting drilling in the reserve, marking a win for President Trump, who has fought for the last seven months to encourage more drilling.
President Biden introduced the restrictions during his time in office to prioritise traditional Indigenous uses, as well as protect habitats for polar bears, caribou, and other wildlife, across around 3 million acres of the 23-million-acre reserve. Around half of the reserve had previously been restricted from oil development under the Biden and Obama administrations. However, the Trump administration now plans to open 82 percent of the reserve to gas and oil drilling.