U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Senator Ed Markey led 60 members of Congress in a letter condemning the Trump administration’s plans to auction lands within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas companies, according to a March 10 statement.
The lawmakers argue that there is no economic interest from oil companies to drill on these lands and warn that such actions threaten fragile ecosystems as well as tribes who rely on them for subsistence hunting. They highlight that today no oil company holds leases on the Coastal Plain of the Refuge and note that major companies like Chevron and BP have abandoned their interests in the area.
In their letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, they wrote: “Such action would be inconsistent with fiscal responsibility, responsible stewardship of our public lands, and the obligation to protect taxpayers from unnecessary risk. Previous lease sales in the Arctic Refuge have repeatedly demonstrated that drilling in this region is not economically viable and will not provide the revenues that American taxpayers were promised.”
The lawmakers point out that previous attempts at lease sales generated little or no revenue compared to projections. The first sale in 2021 brought in less than one percent of expected revenue while a second sale in 2025 received zero bids. They also state that every major bank in the United States and Canada has refused to finance drilling projects there due to high costs, remoteness, and longstanding bipartisan opposition.
The Arctic Refuge is described as essential habitat for wildlife such as polar bears and caribou herds which are important for Alaska Native communities including the Gwich'in people. The letter adds: “Even preliminary activities, such as seismic exploration, risk causing lasting damage to this remote and highly sensitive landscape.”
The lawmakers conclude: “Taken together, these facts underscore a fundamental reality: oil and gas leasing in the Arctic Refuge has failed to generate meaningful revenue, failed to attract industry participation, and failed to demonstrate any realistic prospect of benefiting American taxpayers.” They urge robust public participation and Tribal consultation before any further decisions are made regarding future lease sales.
