Trump’s return brings big changes for Alaska
President backs resource projects; some funds frozen Just as he said he would, President Donald Trump seems to be taking a wrecking ball to the federal govern- ment in his first few weeks in office. It’s a shock but also a needed shake- up in the start of his second term, many believe. Some feel Trump is moving too fast, however, and federal courts have pushed back on a few of the president’s more controversial ini- tiatives. The effects of federal layoffs ordered by the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) un- der Elon Musk, are also being felt in Alaska. It will take months, even years, to see whether these moves will “right- size” what many feel is bloated fed- eral bureaucracy or whether the ini- tiatives will be damaging in ways that impair the nation’s economy, for example, inflation caused by Trump’s tariffs and counter-tariffs from trading partners. Inflation and other cost increases are already rais- ing some Alaska transportation proj- ect costs, even before there are tariff impacts. However, the president’s an- nouncements encouraging Alas- ka resource development are being warmly received, with signs that exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and approv- al of the Ambler mineral access road will get the green light. Randy Ruaro, Executive Director of the Alaska Industrial Development Authority (AIDEA), believes the new president will cancel actions by for- mer Interior Secretary Deb Haaland
mile Ambler Access Road. These are seen as positives but there is also concern in Alaska about some of the new president’s ac- tions, for example for infrastruc- ture projects planned or underway funded by the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), two important laws passed under former President Joe Biden. Just after coming into office, Trump froze $504 million in federal funds for Alaska energy projects ad- ministered through the state’s Alas- ka Energy Authority. The total num- ber was higher when energy projects being developed by other Alaska groups, mainly in rural Alaska, are included. These funds were still fro- zen as of early March. Ironically, a Department of En- ergy program to explore for critical minerals in Alaska was also frozen.
to cancel federal leases in ANWR held by the state development authority. Mining companies exploring in the Ambler Mining District are also encouraged. “Ambler Metals is pleased with the Trump Administration’s support for the Ambler Road and looks forward to resuming exploration activities in the region as soon as possible,” Am- bler Metals Managing Director Kaleb Froehlich said. “We are closely fol- lowing the administration’s efforts to approve the necessary permits for this project, and decisions on explo- ration will be made in part when we see concrete steps being taken to ad- vance the Ambler Road.” Ambler Metals is a joint venture of two mining companies exploring in the region. The companies had been spending more than $25 mil- lion a year in exploration until Haa- land canceled permits for the 211-
THE LINK: MARCH 2025
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