U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska has criticized the Biden administration following new restrictions announced by the Department of the Interior (DOI) on resource development in the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska (NPR-A). The decision affects 3 million acres and marks what Sullivan describes as the administration’s 70th action targeting Alaska.
Senator Sullivan expressed his concerns, stating, “President Biden is waging his war on Alaska until the last possible moment.” He further claimed that these actions are based on powers granted by the outgoing administration, which he believes are illegal and currently being challenged in court. Sullivan described this move as an attempt to undermine Alaska and silence its indigenous Iñupiat community.
The senator also criticized Laura Daniel-Davis, an unconfirmed Interior official, for citing subsistence and the Alaska Native way of life as reasons for their decision. According to Sullivan, this stance is opposed by many Alaska Native leaders from the North Slope region. He accused officials of prioritizing future roles in environmental groups over economic opportunities for indigenous Alaskans while claiming to support racial equity and indigenous voices.
Sullivan concluded with a call for accountability: “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.”
