Special Poll
Donald Trump would need a significant legal team to scrap restrictions on U.S. drilling and exports, as undoing many of President Biden’s policies could face substantial bureaucratic and legal hurdles.
For example, the Interior Department recently finalized plans for leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), following a mandate under Trump’s 2017 tax law. A sale has been scheduled for January 9, offering the legally required minimum acreage of 400,000, along with environmental safeguards. While Biden opposes drilling in the refuge, his administration’s leasing plan includes these restrictions to limit its impact.
Critics argue that Biden’s approach impedes the development of oil and gas resources, with the American Petroleum Institute stating that these actions contradict clear economic and energy security benefits. On the other hand, environmentalists remain opposed to any leasing in ANWR, arguing it threatens the region’s fragile ecosystem. Some, like Andy Moderow from the Alaska Wilderness League, point out that legal findings in the formal record of decision (ROD) cannot be simply disregarded, warning that attempts to bypass these findings to expedite drilling would face scrutiny and legal challenges.
Separately, a forthcoming Department of Energy study on liquefied natural gas (LNG) could further complicate Trump’s plans to quickly issue export licenses. Scrapping the study to fast-track permits could create legal risks if the administration contradicts its findings. Analysts suggest the study could delay Trump’s ability to approve pending applications by months or even longer, as revisiting or revising study results might be necessary.
In the case of ANWR, even with potential policy changes, the government cannot compel companies to drill. A 2021 sale at the end of Trump’s term saw limited interest due to policy uncertainty, environmental pressures, and alternative opportunities elsewhere. Following that, Biden’s administration reviewed and suspended activities, leading companies to relinquish two leases and the cancellation of nine others by the Interior Department.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, however, believes that future leasing under Trump would likely receive more enthusiasm, particularly with supportive policies from Washington that could encourage developers to take action. Whether this optimism materializes remains uncertain, as legal and environmental challenges loom over any significant policy reversals.