"Drill, baby, drill": Trump administration lifts Biden-era drilling limits in Alaska

On November 13, the Trump administration finalised its rollback of Biden-era limits on oil and gas drilling in Alaska, affecting the nation’s largest area of undisturbed public land, the latest report by Reuters reveals.

The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s goal of reducing restrictions on domestic energy development, particularly in resource-rich regions of Alaska.

The 2024 rule introduced under President Joe Biden had prohibited oil and gas leasing on 10.6 million acres (4.3 million hectares) of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and had imposed development restrictions on more than 2 million additional acres.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated: "By rescinding the 2024 rule, we are following the direction set by President Trump to unlock Alaska’s energy potential, create jobs for North Slope communities, and strengthen American energy security. This action restores common-sense management and ensures responsible development benefits for both Alaska and the nation."

The Alaska Native group Voice of the Arctic Inupiat expressed support for the rollback, noting that drilling infrastructure provides substantial contributions to regional tax revenues and supports essential services, including healthcare and education.

As Reuters highlights, this decision marks a significant step in advancing Trump’s energy policy, aimed at expanding U.S. oil and gas production under the slogan “Drill, baby, drill.”

By Tamilla Hasanova