Secretary Burgum’s intentions to pilfer sacred land in the Arctic Refuge to the highest bidder flies in the face of the rights of the Gwich’in as Indigenous people and, quite frankly, in the face of common sense.

Now, Congress is at it again—using reconciliation to mandate Arctic drilling, despite its unpopularity, economic failure, and lack of real revenue. It’s a political scam to bankroll tax cuts for the ultra-rich by auctioning off public lands.

Doug Burgum may not be a household name, but his new job as Secretary of the Interior in the Trump administration puts him in charge of decisions that will impact millions of acres of public land and water—especially in Alaska.

On Day One of his second term, President Trump issued an executive order that directs the Secretary of the Interior to take various actions that will harm the Arctic, including the people that live there and rely on it for their way of life.

This week, the Biden Administration held the second legally mandated lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Gwich’in Steering Committee celebrates that the Department of the Interior received no bids from oil companies or other entities in this sale.

The Biden administration just concluded the second legally mandated lease sale in the Arctic Refuge. It should come as no surprise that this lease sale in the most cherished National Wildlife Refuge in America was even more of a failure than the first.

President Jimmy Carter was a champion for protecting Alaska’s irreplaceable landscapes and a visionary leader. We honor his lifetime achievements as one of Alaska’s greatest conservation heroes and extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones.

The Biden administration just announced a Record of Decision (ROD) on the Arctic Refuge leasing program and that it will hold the second lease sale in the crown jewel of America’s National Wildlife Refuge System, as set out in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Today, the Biden administration announced the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

AIDEA has made it clear that they do not care to hear from those most affected by the decisions they make behind closed doors in their boardroom. By denying public callers an opportunity to comment, they have shown blatant disregard for communities in the Arctic.

In the wake of Earth Day, the Biden administration took a significant step forward for environmental conservation by announcing regulations safeguarding 13 million acres in the Western Arctic.

In the spring of 2024, President Biden took a monumental step in conservation, enacting new protections for over 13 million acres in the Western Arctic — the nation’s largest single unit of public land. This landmark regulation represents a significant victory for Alaska Wilderness League, culminating from thousands of hours of dedicated effort by our staff and supporters.

This announcement will provide stronger protections for Special Areas within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska – a welcome and critical step toward recognizing the importance of Alaska’s public lands and waters for protecting communities, biodiversity, and the future of our global climate.

In the Western Arctic lies the United States’ largest expanse of public land, a stretch that holds immense cultural significance and provides habitat to countless wildlife. But you wouldn’t know it by this place’s official name: “the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.”

“This bill makes it abundantly clear that Congressional Republicans will continue to prioritize extractive industries, putting people, communities and landscapes in harm’s way in the beleaguered hope of turning a profit.”

President Joe Biden is on a roll, fulfilling his important commitment to protect nature and make strides toward his stated “goal of conserving at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.”

And actually, what are Special Areas? Here’s a breakdown of the history of these life-giving zones in Alaska’s Western Arctic, and how Audubon Alaska staff helped to protect some of the most unique places on the planet.

Safeguarding the Arctic Refuge from oil and gas development is vital. The refuge was protected until 2017. Additionally, the region’s Indigenous Iñupiat and Gwich'in communities rely on the area for food security and traditional ways of life — particularly the Gwich'in, who are heavily dependent on the Porcupine Caribou Herd. 

Did you catch the good news? Last week, the Biden administration announced a suite of actions to protect diverse landscapes across America’s Arctic, recognizing the importance of Alaska’s public lands and waters for communities, biodiversity and our global climate.

Today, the Biden administration announced a suite of actions to protect diverse landscapes across America’s Arctic, recognizing the importance of Alaska’s public lands and waters for communities, biodiversity and our global climate.