Alaska Natives cheer Trump’s energy revival: “Our voices are finally being heard”

• The Trump administration overturned Biden-era drilling restrictions in Alaska’s NPR-A and ANWR, reopening oil and gas leasing to boost energy independence and tribal economies.
• Native Alaskan leaders, who criticized Biden’s policies as economically harmful and exclusionary, praised the move as restoring sovereignty and local livelihoods.
• Oil and gas taxes fund 95% of the North Slope’s budget, supporting critical services like schools and healthcare; restrictions threatened community survival.
• The decision aligns with Trump’s “American Energy Dominance” goals, including reducing reliance on foreign adversaries and lowering domestic energy prices.
• Tribal leaders urge sustained federal engagement to ensure long-term benefits, emphasizing that resource development supports both culture and national prosperity.

For decades, Alaska’s vast natural resources have been caught in the crossfire of Washington’s political battles. But now, under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a new era of energy independence and tribal empowerment is dawning. Native Alaskan leaders are celebrating the Trump administration’s decisive reversal of Biden-era drilling restrictions—a move they say will restore economic vitality, tribal sovereignty and America’s energy dominance.

A stark reversal: From Biden’s lockdown to Trump’s unleashing

On March 20, Secretary Burgum announced sweeping actions to reopen oil and gas leasing in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A) and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), fulfilling a key promise of Trump’s “American Energy Dominance” agenda. The decision directly overturns the Biden administration’s 2023 rule, which sought to shut down development in these regions by 2024—a policy that Alaskan tribal leaders called “deeply flawed” and economically devastating.

“It’s cautious optimism,” said Nagruk Harcharek, president of Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat (VOICE), a coalition representing 21 Native communities. “We feel like we’re going to be able to get some things done with a more favorable administration.”

The contrast between the two administrations couldn’t be starker. While Biden officials touted their policies as protective of Indigenous rights and the environment, tribal leaders say they were sidelined—and their livelihoods threatened.

“We found out policy changes in the news”

Harcharek didn’t mince words about the Biden administration’s approach. Despite promises of being the “most tribally friendly administration in history,” he said, “We didn’t get that sentiment whatsoever.”

The Biden DOI, led by Secretary Deb Haaland, frequently invoked “Indigenous Knowledge” to justify locking up Alaska’s resources. Yet, according to Harcharek, meaningful consultation never materialized.

“Oftentimes we were finding out policy changes in the news,” he said. “Which is not ideal when they have our phone numbers.”

Doreen Leavitt, natural resources director for the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, echoed this frustration. “Secretary Haaland’s leadership… was not just deeply frustrating, but it was saddening,” she told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Her lack of respect for our region was frustrating, to say the least.”

Oil, gas and survival: Why energy development matters

For Alaska Natives, this isn’t just about politics—it’s about survival. Harcharek emphasized that 95% of the North Slope’s budget comes from oil and gas taxes, funding schools, healthcare and infrastructure.

“The economy in the North Slope is oil and gas activity,” he said. Without it, communities would be forced to “rely on the state and the federal government”—a prospect he called unsustainable.

Charles Lampe, president of the Kaktovik Iñupiat Corporation, praised Burgum’s decision, saying it “suggests our community’s voice is finally being heard in Washington.” He noted that reopening ANWR’s Coastal Plain has “overwhelming support” from his people.

A return to energy dominance

The Trump administration’s actions align with its broader energy agenda. In February 2025, Trump established the National Energy Dominance Council, chaired by Burgum, to streamline permitting, boost production and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries like China and Russia.

Alaska Republican Rep. Nick Begich hailed the DOI’s decision as a victory for both his state and the nation:

“When Alaskans have the freedom to develop our vast natural resources, every American stands to benefit—from lower energy prices to stronger national security. Energy is freedom.”

The road ahead: Tribal partnerships and economic revival

While tribal leaders welcome the policy shift, they stress the need for ongoing dialogue. Leavitt urged the Trump-Vance administration to maintain “open, ongoing engagement” to ensure long-term benefits for Native communities.

For now, the message from Alaska is clear: After years of federal overreach, the Trump administration’s pro-energy, pro-tribal policies are restoring hope—and prosperity—to America’s last frontier.

As Harcharek put it: “We are here to advocate for an economic base to support our culture.” And with Alaska’s resources finally unleashed, that culture—and America’s energy future—looks brighter than ever.

The battle over Alaska’s energy potential is a microcosm of a larger national struggle: Will America embrace its resource abundance, or surrender to radical environmentalism at the expense of working families? Under Trump, the answer is clear—energy freedom wins.

Sources include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

DOI.gov

WhiteHouse.gov

DailyCallerNews.org