Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential
Executive Order 14153, titled Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, is a presidential directive intended to speed up and expand development of Alaska’s natural resources. It directs federal agencies to reverse many regulations and decisions enacted between 2021 and 2025 that the administration views as obstacles to resource development, and to prioritize projects that increase oil, gas, and LNG production, along with related infrastructure (like pipelines and export facilities). The order also requires a series of reinstatements or revocations of various land and water management decisions in Alaska (including areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, and Ambler Road), and calls for enhanced cross-agency coordination to assist Alaska with transportation and energy projects. While it emphasizes economic and energy security benefits, the order also sets up temporary reviews and moratoriums on certain existing decisions to reexamine their legal sufficiency and public impacts. In short, the order aims to dramatically accelerate resource development in Alaska by rolling back or superseding certain protections and analyses, while directing agencies to expedite permitting and to prioritize LNG development and energy export. It also elevates the role of Alaska-specific projects and infrastructure in national energy strategy.
Key Points
- 1Policy shift to maximize Alaska’s resources and LNG development. The order states a clear goal to fully use Alaska’s lands and resources, expedite permitting and leasing, and prioritize LNG production and export to the Pacific region.
- 2Broad authority to undo or revise previous rules and actions. Agencies are instructed to rescind, revise, or defer regulations, orders, and guidance from 2021–2025 that conflict with the new policy, and to give priority to Alaska-related energy projects.
- 3Aggressive actions on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and Coastal Plain leasing. The Interior Department is directed to withdraw or overturn certain ANWR-related orders, resume leasing, issue permits, and reconsider or reinstate specific environmental analyses and records of decision related to Coastal Plain oil and gas development.
- 4Alaska land-management and road/roadless policy changes. The order calls for moratoriums on certain Alaska-specific land-use decisions (such as the Roadless Rule in Alaska) and directs restoration or reinstatement of earlier, more permissive management rules for places like Ambler Road and other Alaska land areas.
- 5Cross-agency coordination and implementation. The order requires actions across multiple departments (Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, Army, etc.), including measures to assist Alaska’s governor with infrastructure projects, review any actions that hinder critical Alaska projects, and ensure actions are implemented consistently with the policy, subject to legal and funding constraints.