Congress has just delivered a hard-fought win to Alaska’s Native communities by striking down a stifling Biden-era policy on energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), as Breitbart reports.

In a bold stroke, lawmakers leveraged the Congressional Review Act to erase a rule that locked up over 1 million acres of ANWR’s Coastal Plain from oil and gas exploration.

The roots of this saga trace back to 1980, when Congress initially set aside ANWR, sparking endless debates over its untapped energy wealth.

Congress Strikes Down Restrictive Energy Policy

Years later, a policy under former President Joe Biden, outlined in the 2024 Record of Decision by the Bureau of Land Management, imposed tight limits on development in this expansive area.

That changed on Thursday night when the U.S. Senate, mirroring the House, passed a resolution from Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) to scrap the restrictive rule.

This move suggests Congress and the current leadership are favoring energy opportunities over what many see as excessive federal overreach.

Native Communities Celebrate Long-Ignored Voices

Here’s the heart of the matter: the Iñupiat of the North Slope and Kaktovik, the sole community within ANWR, were largely ignored when the Biden policy was crafted.

Now, their perspective is gaining traction, with organizations like the Voice of the Arctic Iñupiat (VOICE) hailing the reversal as a nod to their right to self-determination.

“These joint congressional resolutions are a positive sign that congressional decision-makers support our Iñupiaq self-determination,” said VOICE President & CEO Nagruk Harcharek.

Energy Development Sparks Hope and Concern

“After enduring years of lopsided relations with both Congress and the federal government, our communities are cautiously optimistic for the people of Kaktovik following this vote -- supported by our local and regional leaders -- in our Indigenous homelands,” Harcharek continued.

While this feels like a triumph for Native autonomy, Democrats caution that broader drilling could bring unintended consequences to Alaskan communities and delicate ecosystems.

Environmental advocates specifically highlight risks to the migratory Porcupine Caribou herd, which births its calves on the Coastal Plain, framing energy projects as a looming danger.

Industry and Locals Push Back Against Critics

Countering those fears, the fossil fuel industry insists that modern methods like directional drilling and ice roads can sharply reduce environmental harm.

Both local Iñupiat communities and Alaska’s state government back responsible development, eyeing economic benefits, while green activists remain skeptical of industry promises.

Ultimately, this reversal marks a pivot toward prioritizing local voices and energy potential, even as the debate over ANWR’s future continues to simmer.