Alaska tribes “applaud” Trump administrator withdraws “deeply flawed” Biden administrator energy policy – Watt?

From the Daily Caller

Audrey Streb
Contributors

Community leaders told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the Alaska Natives celebrated the Department of the Interior (DOI) decision to restore the lease and expansion of Alaska oil and gas.

DOI announced Thursday that DOI Secretary Doug Burgum “takes immediate steps to unlock the untapped natural resources potential of Alaska and supports President Donald Trump’s vision for U.S. energy advantages” by oil drilling in areas where the Biden administration had previously moved to closed areas. Aboriginal community leaders in Alaska told DCNF that the DOI under the Trump administration has taken a step in a “favorable” direction. (Related: Biden Admin goes all out to bring Alas a rich part to avoid Trump's energy agenda)

“It’s cautious optimism,” Nagruk Harcharek, president of the Arctic Iñupia Voice, a nonprofit that represents 21 different Native American companies and communities in Alaska, told DCNF. “We feel we will be able to do something with more favorable management, but we are also cautious about it because we don’t want to threaten the cultural foundation and lifestyle we rely on every day.”

Drilling activities are open again to open along the coast of the Alaska National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A) and the Arctic Wildlife National Shelter (ANWR), after the Biden administration proposed a 2023 rule to close the 2024 development rules. Voice and its members “announced the North's Arctic Announcement in the Interior Announcement”.

This week: @secretaryburgum Take action to unlock Alaska’s energy potential and support @potusSecretary Burgum expressed appreciation for the vision of U.S. energy dominance Potus signed a joint resolution that paved the way for more offshore energy development, and so on. pic.twitter.com/ylskenlg4p

– U.S. Department of the Interior (@Interior) March 21, 2025

“It’s just a surprisingly surprising constant attack,” Hasharak recalled the Biden administration’s actions against the DCNF. Harcharek mentioned that the last administration claimed to be “the friendliest government in American history” even though the native communities in the North Slope of Alaska “didn't get that sentiment.”

Harcharek said the Biden administration promised on paper “to engage in meaningful consultations with Indigenous communities most affected by policy decisions” and they “hopefully include it in dialogue in the national oil reserves.” He said that although this affected the “backyard” of his community, “consultation was very rare.”

“We often find policy changes in the news,” Hakik said. “When they have our phone number, that’s not ideal.”

“It’s not true that the voice is wrongly manifested as an oil and gas advocacy group,” Harcharek said. “We are here to advocate for an economic foundation to support our communities and support our culture.” Harcharek continued to point out that “what happens to be the way we do this now” is by advocating the development of lipophilic and Liga gas policies in Alaska, “because the economic foundation of the North Slope is through resource development.”

Harcharek noted that 95% of the North Slope budget comes from oil and gas infrastructure taxes. “The economy of the North Slope is oil and gas activity,” he said. Harcharek said schools, health care, roads and tap water all came from “the economic base that our early leaders ensured we could use,” expressing concern that their communities would be forced to “rely on state and federal governments” without access to oil and gas resource development.

“Secretary Burgum's decision … shows that the voice of our community has finally been heard in Washington,” Charles Lampe, president of Kaktowic Inubiat Corporation (KIC), wrote in a press release. Lampe continued to reopen these lands for “development opportunities on the coastal plains” and “overwhelming support from our community.”

“The announcement of DOI is a positive step towards stronger with the North Slopeiñupiat community, which is a welcome change in politics to our people, our self-determination and the legal obligations to consult with the North Slope Government,” said Doreen Leevitt, Director of Arctic Aviation and Director of Carriage Natural Resources, Doreen Leevitt. “We thank Secretary Burgum for his early attention to our region and encourage the Trump Vance administration to remain open and ongoing dialogue with North Slope leaders to ensure long-term support for our community and self-determination policies.”

“Last week's decision by the Interior Department clearly shows that Alaska is once again at the forefront of the U.S. energy future,” Republican Alaska Rep. Nick Begich told DCNF. “The voice of the North Slope Iñupiat community did not sit on the table under the Biden administration, and Alaska's resources were locked in by the pen's stroke.”

“Deciding to resume leases and open the door to responsible development for NPR-A and ANWR will benefit the statewide Alaskan Native communities and every household and business that rely on reliable energy,” Begich continued. “When Alaskas have the freedom to develop our vast natural resources, every American will benefit — from lower energy prices to stronger national security. Energy will touch every aspect of American life. From heating our homes and refueling, refueling to our economy to ensuring the strength of our supply chains, energy is freedom.” Begich said, “The road to American energy domination began in Alaska and I will continue to work with the Trump administration to make sure that Alaskas not only hear Alaskas, but also ahead of ensuring the energy future of America.”

Instead of commenting, the offices of Alaska's Merkowski and Sullivan pointed the DCNF toward a Thursday press release from the Alaska delegation.

Today, the unilateral decision of the North Slope to the Biden administration has affected our NPR-A home. These actions will bring years of progress, put our communities in trouble and destroy our culture. Our statement: https://t.co/74r7vmcosk pic.twitter.com/9ylakgbbvx

– The voice of the Arctic Iñupiat (@voice_arctic) April 19, 2024

The group wrote on X in April 2024 that the Biden administration “cannot reliably claim that this is ours when our communities and culture suffer from this rule.”

“The leaders of North Slope Iubiat did not consult the federal government before taking action,” the release said. “By excluding local Aboriginal communities from the decision table, the Biden administration has developed seriously flawed policies that will have dire economic consequences for North Slope Iubiat's community and culture.”

The announcements of DOI and Burgum “show that by listening to North Slope Iñupiat, this administration has taken a different approach than its predecessors,” Doreen Leavitt, Director of Natural Resources and Tribal Secretary of the Arctic Slope, wrote in a press release. “While these early implementation and secretary actions are promising, it is important that the Trump-wide administration interacts with our North Slope leaders early to ensure enduring policies in our region that benefit our communities and our self-determination in the long run.”

DOI and Burgum's offices did not respond to DCNF's request for comment.

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