In his sweeping executive order that undoes many of the 70 lockdowns of Alaska by the Biden Administration, President Donald Trump made specific mention of the Alaska natural gasline project, oil production in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, and the 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the road to King Cove, and the road to the Ambler State Mining District. He also revoked the “Roadless Rule” by the Biden Administration and removed hurdles preventing Alaska Native people from receiving the lands they are due.
Read the entire executive order at this link.
Some of the immediate reactions from Alaska’s elected leaders were sent Monday night to Must Read Alaska:
Gov. Mike Dunleavy: “Alaska is unleashed! On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order recognizing Alaska as a true energy warehouse, paving the way for unprecedented opportunities in resource development and energy independence.”
Sen. Dan Sullivan said, ““It is morning again in Alaska. With the stroke of a pen, President Trump has sent America and the world the unmistakable message that unleashing Alaska’s energy and resources will be a top priority of his administration, literally from day 1. The contrast with the Biden administration couldn’t be more stark. For four years, our state suffered under an unrelenting assault—70 executive orders and actions restricting Alaskans’ economic opportunities and lawful access to our lands. No state has endured this kind of sustained negative attention from a federal administration in recent memory. President Trump’s sweeping executive order, and the work we will do with his administration over the next four years, will put Alaskans back in the driver’s seat of our state’s destiny, advancing critical resource development projects and unleashing economic opportunities for the benefit of our hard-working families and the security of the entire nation. I want to thank President Trump for recognizing Alaska as the great strategic asset for our country that it is and for standing up for working Alaskans.”
Congressman Nick Begich III said, “Today, the failed policies of the Biden Administration are now but a page in the history books – one that will soon be forgotten. The golden age of America has begun. On day one, President Trump showed the American people they have a leader in the White House who will usher in a new era of economic renewal and energy dominance with an executive order aimed at unleashing American energy. Our work to support this vision has already begun: my team and I have been working with President Trump’s team over the previous months to prepare and execute a plan that will open the state of Alaska once again. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, Alaska will be empowered to fully harness its vast energy and mineral resources, spearhead economic renewal, and solidify our position as an energy powerhouse. I am proud to stand with the Trump Administration in this critical effort to build a stronger, more prosperous Alaska for generations to come. The pathway to American prosperity begins in Alaska, and it begins today.”
Even Sen. Lisa Murkowski had words for Trump’s executive order: “President Trump is picking up right where he left off, reversing years of damaging decisions and prioritizing Alaska’s unrivaled opportunities for responsible energy and mineral development. The policies laid out in this Executive Order will improve our economy, our budget, and our quality of life while simultaneously making energy more affordable and enhancing national security. Alaska is the blue chip in the United States’ energy portfolio, and I thank President Trump for helping us capitalize on our resources.”
The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources issued this statement: “The war on American energy is over. In a historic day one executive order, President Trump is reopening the 1002 area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska – two areas indispensable in energy exploration. The road to American energy dominance runs through Alaska!”
Yet there were no statements issued on Monday by any of the mayors of Alaska about the unprecedented presidential executive order that will ultimately benefit their communities.
Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance was silent. There were no comments from Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins or Juneau Mayor Beth Weldon. The local leaders appeared to have been caught off-guard.
The Alaska Democratic Party released no comments, and the Alaska House and Senate Democrat majority organizations, in which there are several Republicans who have jumped ship to join with Democrats running Alaska’s two legislative bodies, made no statements about the historic executive order.
The Republican minority in the Alaska Senate, however, applauded the progress for Alaska: “Congratulations to President Trump for assuming the office of President! The AK Senate Republicans look forward to working with the state and federal government in a new era of Alaskan resource development and prosperity #45 #47.”
