REVERSAL Shocks Climate Lobby — Oil Roars Back

Alaska’s petroleum reserve exposes a desperate election-year energy policy reversal after years of strangling domestic oil production.

Key Takeaways

• The Department of Interior released a draft analysis on June 17 proposing to open 82% of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve for oil and gas development
• This 23-million-acre reserve was originally established in 1923 as an emergency oil supply for the U.S. Navy
• The Trump administration’s proposal represents a major reversal of previous policies that restricted domestic energy production
• This decision comes amid soaring gas prices and energy security concerns affecting American families

Energy Policy Reversal

In a significant shift from previous positions, the Trump administration has proposed opening up 82% of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) for oil and gas leasing and development. The Department of Interior (DOI) released this draft analysis on June 17, signaling what appears to be a complete reversal of earlier policies that severely restricted domestic energy production. This sudden change comes as Americans continue to struggle with higher energy costs and as the administration faces mounting criticism for its handling of the economy.

Making Natural Resources Great Again: “Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the department would allow oil and gas leases on 82 percent of the 23 million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, overturning protections that President Joe Biden finalized last year, and will… pic.twitter.com/NO7TLnzJ4V

— Steve Milloy (@JunkScience) March 21, 2025

Historical Context of the Reserve

The National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska has a storied history in America’s energy security planning. President Warren Harding originally designated this massive 23-million-acre area as an emergency oil supply for the U.S. Navy in 1923, recognizing the strategic importance of maintaining domestic energy reserves. In 1976, management of the reserve was transferred from military oversight to the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM), transitioning it from purely military strategic purposes to a broader national resource management approach.

Conservative energy experts have long advocated for utilizing this resource to strengthen America’s energy independence and reduce reliance on foreign oil. The reserve represents one of America’s largest untapped energy resources, capable of providing substantial relief to American consumers while creating thousands of high-paying jobs in the energy sector. President Trump had previously championed expanded access to this resource as part of his successful American energy dominance strategy.

Political Implications

The timing of this policy shift raises questions about the administration’s motivations. After years of implementing policies that restricted domestic energy production and canceled critical pipeline projects, this sudden reversal appears politically calculated. Gas prices remain significantly higher than they were before Biden took office, creating a political vulnerability that this policy announcement seems designed to address. The administration’s earlier decisions to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve rather than increase domestic production have been widely criticized as short-sighted.

Environmental Considerations and Economic Impact

While environmental groups are likely to oppose this development, responsible resource extraction in Alaska has a proven track record of coexisting with environmental preservation. Modern drilling technologies have dramatically reduced the environmental footprint of oil and gas operations. The economic benefits for Alaska would be substantial, including job creation, increased state revenues, and strengthened local economies. For American consumers, increased domestic production typically translates to lower energy costs and reduced inflation across the economy.

This proposal would allow access to an estimated 8.7 billion barrels of oil and 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Developing these resources would significantly strengthen America’s energy security position while reducing dependence on foreign producers who often don’t share American values or environmental standards. President Trump’s energy policies demonstrated that America can achieve energy independence while maintaining environmental standards that are among the highest in the world.

America First Energy Policy

The administration’s proposal represents a tacit acknowledgment that President Trump’s America First energy policies were the correct approach all along. Opening the NPR-A aligns with the commonsense understanding that utilizing our own abundant resources is preferable to begging foreign nations to increase their production. American energy workers and companies have consistently demonstrated they can produce the cleanest and most efficiently extracted energy in the world, while creating prosperity for American communities and strengthening our national security.