Trump fast-tracks Alaska drilling, exempting some projects from environmental reviews

Published October 8, 2026 10:20am ET | Updated October 8, 2026 10:20am ET



The Trump administration is accelerating the approval of some federal permits for oil and gas companies to drill in Alaska’s North Slope, exempting winter exploration projects from environmental reviews.

This marks the administration’s latest effort to encourage the development of fossil fuel resources in Alaska’s remote terrain, meant to advance President Donald Trump’s energy dominance agenda and increase exports of oil and gas to Asia.

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