Arctic Refuge rollbacks, other Trump actions, prioritize drilling and mining interests over communities

WASHINGTON D.C. (Jan. 20, 2025) — Following his inauguration, President Trump directed agencies to “unleash” fossil fuel production on federal public lands and waters, declaring an “energy emergency” and sending the unmistakable message that he and his administration intend to prioritize mining, drilling and logging interests over the communities that rely on our public lands for life and livelihood.  

President Trump’s actions suggest 'energy dominance' means letting fossil fuels totally rule over our public lands and overshadow all other uses. That isn’t what most people want. 

Lydia Weiss, senior director for government relations at The Wilderness Society, made the following statement about the news: 

“President Trump’s actions suggest 'energy dominance' means letting fossil fuels totally rule over our public lands and overshadow all other uses. That isn’t what most people want. We cannot lift communities up and improve people’s lives by worsening climate change, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or making it cheaper and easier to pollute our air and water. 

America’s public lands are part of what makes us great as a nation. They are a key part of our shared heritage and can unite us when so much is threatening to tear us apart. Today’s actions are a dire threat to this common ground. We depend on public lands as places to hunt, hike and play; havens for hallowed ancestral and cultural sites; and refuge for threatened wildlife. People in this country want wild nature protected and passed down to future generations in good shape. We will stand arm-in-arm with congressional champions and others to ensure that happens.”