The Trump administration has reopened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alaska to oil and gas drilling, reversing a ban imposed under President Joe Biden.
The decision allows leasing in the refuge’s coastal plain, a move long supported by Alaska officials and aligned with President Donald Trump’s push to expand domestic energy production.
The refuge, often referred to as ANWR, spans a remote area between the Arctic Ocean and Canada’s Yukon territory. Environmental groups have criticized the plan, citing risks to polar bears, caribou, and other wildlife.
Oil development in ANWR has been a decades-long political battle, with supporters pointing to economic benefits and opponents warning of irreversible ecological damage.
