Gov. Mike Dunleavy hails Trump executive orders as path to Alaska resource development

Gov. Mike Dunleavy applauded President Trump's executive orders on federal land management as a major opportunity for Alaska, saying the measures "interject[ed] hope into this great state" and could reopen access for projects ranging from ANWR leases to the Ambler Road.

The executive orders, issued in late January and described at a governor's press conference in Anchorage, direct federal agencies to review prior restrictions and prioritize permitting, according to comments by state officials. Dunleavy and department leaders said the actions could support renewed lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), accelerate the Alaska LNG project and remove administrative barriers to infrastructure such as the Ambler Road and timber activity in the Tongass National Forest.

Why it matters: Roughly 60 percent of land within Alaska's borders is federally controlled, and state officials said federal policy changes are necessary to unlock what they described as long-dormant economic potential. Randy Buraro, executive director of ADA, told reporters ADA estimates "3 to 4 billion barrels of oil on ADA leases" and cited a federal estimate of up to "$2,000,000,000 annually" in royalties if ANWR were developed. Frank Richards, president of the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, said the executive order singles out Alaska LNG for federal prioritization and frames the project as a national strategic asset.

State Department of Natural Resources Commissioner stated that the orders could clear administrative obstacles that prevented the state from taking title to roughly 5 million acres it believes it is owed under statehood conveyances. "Upon statehood, Alaska was entitled to receive somewhere north of 105,000,000 acres of land," the commissioner said, noting that about 100,000,000 acres have been conveyed to date and that roughly 5,000,000 acres remain.

Attorney General Craig Taylor cautioned that the orders will not eliminate litigation. He said the state's litigation load rose from about 35 cases to "well over 80" during prior years and predicted environmental groups would challenge elements of the orders. "These groups will be ready to attack and litigate every single element of the executive order," Taylor said, adding that Alaska must be prepared to litigate or defend federal-state cooperation on permitting.

Officials identified specific federal rules and statutes they expect to target for review or reversal, including prior National Park Service guidance and certain interpretations of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act as they relate to permitting. The administration also pointed to review of public land orders and navigable water determinations tied to statehood entitlements.

State leaders described several projects they expect to reengage under the new federal posture: ANWR lease activity, the Ambler Road (which ADA said it is positioned to reengage on by late March), Alaska LNG (which state project leaders say is federally prioritized by the order), and timber harvest policy changes for the Tongass National Forest. Commissioners said they plan to work with the federal administration and the Alaska congressional delegation to convert executive actions into more durable law where possible.

Supporters at the press conference framed development as both an economic and geopolitical issue: Frank Richards said the order directs federal agencies to "prioritize Alaska LNG in international trade talks, and utilizing Alaska LNG for military and defense needs," and Randy Buraro argued that developing Alaska resources domestically reduces reliance on foreign supplies.

Questions from reporters touched on projects not mentioned in the orders. Dunleavy said he expects discussions about the Pebble Mine will occur "when that takes place" but that he would "let the dust settle" on the executive orders before detailing a path forward. On renaming Denali, the governor said he had not yet discussed the issue personally with the president and would withhold a position until he had that conversation.

What remains uncertain: Officials repeatedly acknowledged litigation risk and said the executive orders themselves may be challenged in court. They also noted that many permitting actions and sales will still require agency-level processes, consultations with tribes and other stakeholders, and sometimes congressional action to secure lasting legal changes.

The governor and department heads said the state would pursue coordination with the new federal administration and with Alaska's congressional delegation while pressing to reinstate or accelerate federal actions that state leaders said had been halted under prior administrations. "We're going to do everything we can to take advantage of it," Dunleavy said, concluding that legal fights are likely but that the state should press forward to expand development and job opportunities.

Dunleavy and administration officials stressed an intention to pursue what they described as responsible development, citing existing state conservation and permitting programs that they say have allowed resource projects to coexist with wildlife and subsistence uses. They also acknowledged indigenous and local opposition exists for some projects and that state leaders plan to pursue consultation and outreach as permitting moves forward.

Ending: State leaders said they will continue talks with the federal administration and Alaska's congressional delegation and prepare for litigation, while restarting planning and outreach for the projects named at the press conference. No federal actions were completed on site during the event; the administration characterized the orders as the start of an intergovernmental effort and warned that many outcomes will depend on subsequent agency actions and court rulings.