Trump Administration Opens Alaska's Arctic to Oil Drilling, Sparking Environmental and Indigenous Backlash

The Trump administration has rescinded several Biden-era policies that restricted oil and gas development in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve and Arctic regions. This move reopens millions of acres for drilling, citing a push for American energy independence and economic growth. Environmentalists and Indigenous groups warn that the decision threatens critical wildlife habitats and the livelihoods of local communities. Critics argue that the policy shift could cause irreversible ecological damage and undermines hard-won protections. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between energy development and environmental conservation in the Arctic.