01.17.25

Biden Administration Hits Disgraceful Milestone: 70th Order or Action Targeting Alaska

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) released the following statement after the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced new restrictions Thursday on responsible resource development within 3 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska (NPR-A). Sen. Sullivan has catalogued the Biden administration’s actions restricting Alaskans’ lawful access to lands and economic opportunities in a document called the “Last Frontier Lock-Up.” DOI’s latest decision amounts to the administration’s 70th executive order or action targeting Alaska.

“President Biden is waging his war on Alaska until the last possible moment,” said Sen. Sullivan. “His Interior Department just announced additional sweeping restrictions on 3 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska—the Biden administration’s 70th executive order or action specifically targeting our state. This action, based on new powers that the outgoing Biden administration gave itself related to the NPR-A—powers that I believe are illegal and which are being challenged in court—is the last gasp of a failed administration trying to crush Alaska and silence the voices of the Iñupiat people who actually live on the North Slope.

“To add insult to injury, the unconfirmed Interior bureaucrat Laura Daniel-Davis actually cites subsistence and the Alaska Native way of life for their decision. What she doesn’t say is that this lock-up is overwhelmingly opposed by the Alaska Native people of the North Slope, including the elected tribal, borough and regional Native corporation leadership of the region. The contrast is just remarkable: On their way out the door to lucrative positions at far-left environmental groups, these corrupt officials kill economic opportunities for the indigenous people of Alaska after spending four years trumpeting hollow slogans of ‘racial equity’ and ‘raising indigenous voices.’ President Biden, Secretary Haaland and Acting Deputy Secretary Daniel-Davis should be ashamed of themselves. I cannot wait for all of them to be relieved of duty on January 20th.”

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