Trump Administration Greenlights Oil Drilling in Alaska's Arctic Wildlife Refuge

The Trump administration has finalized plans to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling. This decision, aimed at boosting energy development, allows for lease sales on the 1.5-million-acre coastal plain—land sacred to the Gwich'in people and vital wildlife habitat. While supported by the Inupiaq community of Kaktovik for its economic potential, the move is condemned by conservationists and Indigenous groups who argue it prioritizes corporate interests over environmental and cultural preservation. The announcement also included a land exchange to build a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, which faces legal challenges.