The Trump administration has approved expanded oil and gas drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), opening 1.56 million acres of coastal plains and announcing a winter lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve.

The Interior Department also reissued permits for the controversial 211-mile Ambler Road Project, which would cut through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, threatening migratory birds, wildlife, and Indigenous communities.

Supporters, including Alaska lawmakers, argue the projects will boost energy independence, create jobs, and unlock access to valuable minerals like copper, cobalt, and zinc.

Environmental groups strongly oppose the moves, warning they endanger wildlife, sacred Indigenous lands, and fragile ecosystems, The Guardian has reported.

Critics say the decisions prioritize corporate interests over public and environmental welfare, with long-term ecological consequences for Alaska.