★ Government Action
Interior reopens 1.56-million-acre ANWR Coastal Plain to oil and gas leasing
Public Land, Private HandsThe Climate RollbackThe Fossil Fuel Comeback
Filed October 2025
★ The Brief
What happened
On October 23, 2025, the Interior Department reopened the full 1.56-million-acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas leasing, reversing Biden-era limits, and restored seven cancelled leases to Alaska's state development authority, AIDEA.
Who benefits
Companies in this industry that have contributed to Trump
Alpha Metallurgical Resources, American Petroleum Institute, Aspect Holdings, BP America, Chevron Corp, ConocoPhillips, Continental Resources, Exxon Mobil, Iron Senergy, Javelin Global Commodities, Occidental Petroleum, Shell USA, Venture Global LNG
Deal or steal?
Reopening the refuge hands an estimated 11.8 billion barrels to the oil industry that bankrolled Trump's return; five months later the same Interior Department auctioned Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve for a record $164 million, the second half of the same Alaska supply-side payoff.
★ Cast your vote
On October 23, 2025, the Department of the Interior announced it would reopen the full 1.56-million-acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas leasing, reversing Biden-era restrictions on drilling in the refuge. The Coastal Plain is estimated to contain up to 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil. Interior also announced it would restore seven oil and gas leases to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), a state agency that had been the principal bidder at the first ANWR lease sale during Trump's first administration; the Biden administration cancelled those leases in 2023, and a federal judge ruled earlier in 2025 that the cancellation exceeded the government's authority. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum framed the action as carrying out a Trump day-one directive to expand Alaska energy production.
Further reading
- ★ Government ActionMarch 2026Trump's Interior Department generates record $164M from Alaska oil lease sale
- ★ Government ActionFebruary 2025Trump creates National Energy Dominance Council chaired by Burgum
- ★ Government ActionJanuary 2025Trump order ends EV mandates and state emissions waivers
- ★ Government ActionJanuary 2025Trump order directs agencies to rescind energy-burdening regulations
- ★ Government ActionJanuary 2025Trump revokes twelve Biden climate and environmental orders
- ★ Government ActionOctober 2025Trump approves Ambler Road across Alaska wilderness for critical-minerals access