President Trump has signed five Congressional Review Act resolutions that overturn several Biden-era Resource Management Plans (RMPs), affecting public lands in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming. The move is intended to open millions of acres for energy and mineral development.
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) commented on the decision: “Natural Resources Committee Republicans have been working hand in hand with the Trump administration to reopen public lands and deliver affordable energy to American families. I was proud to be there when President Trump signed these resolutions today to allow production and transportation of energy and mineral resources, which will in turn strengthen energy security, create jobs and spur economic growth in rural communities. This is great news for our country.”
The resolutions target specific RMPs implemented during the Biden administration:
- H.J. Res. 104, sponsored by Rep. Troy Downing (R-Mont.), repeals an amendment that restricted access to over 2.75 million acres of land and 11.7 million acres of mineral estate in Montana’s Powder River Basin—an area that contains about 30 percent of U.S. coal resources.
- H.J. Res. 105, introduced by Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.), reverses restrictions on more than four million acres in North Dakota, where previous rules had prohibited coal leasing on most deposits and limited oil and gas development.
- H.J. Res. 106, from Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), removes limits on over 13 million acres in Alaska’s Central Yukon region, potentially enabling projects like the Ambler Road and Alaska LNG pipeline.
- H.J.Res.130, led by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), undoes restrictions across Wyoming’s Powder River Basin that had limited future coal development.
- H.J.Res.131, also from Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), overturns a decision that halted oil and gas development on more than one million acres in Alaska’s Coastal Plain.
Supporters argue these changes will boost domestic energy production, job creation, and economic growth while addressing concerns about federal land management policies.
