Trump's oil and gas drilling executive order receives approval from Alaska leaders.
Indigenous group and environmental groups are against the decision.
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at increasing oil, gas drilling, mining, and logging in Alaska. While state politicians are enthusiastic about the move, environmental organizations view it as concerning.
Alaska's economic future is viewed as dependent on the growth of the fossil fuel industry by political leaders.
"What do they mean?" Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) stated on X regarding the executive orders. "It means Alaska is open for business!"
"The Tongass National Forest can once again host a timber industry, allowing Alaska to finally receive its remaining acreage of land from the federal government. This move creates the possibility of thousands and thousands of jobs."
The order "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential" aims to allow oil and gas drilling in a sacred area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, lift limits on drilling activity in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska on the North Slope, and remove restrictions on logging and road-building in a temperate rainforest.
The Gwich’in leaders are against drilling on the coastal plain because it is crucial to their caribou herd, while the Iñupiaq leaders of Kaktovik, located within the refuge, support drilling and hope their opinions will be considered in the Trump administration after feeling ignored by former President Biden.
Alaska is experiencing morning once again, as Senator Dan Sullivan shared on X Monday evening. He also urged Alaskans to read President Trump's executive order.
The Center for Biological Diversity's Alaska director, Cooper Freeman, stated to The Associated Press that the president cannot simply wave a magic wand to make environmental issues disappear. Instead, legal challenges to Trump's plans are almost guaranteed, and environmental laws and rules must be adhered to.
Freeman stated that they are prepared and excited for the battle of their lives to preserve Alaska's greatness, wilderness, and abundance.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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