Biden is furious.
In a major victory for American energy independence, the Senate has voted to overturn a Biden administration rule that restricted oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic region—a key step toward restoring President Trump’s pro-energy vision.
The 52–45 vote included a surprise defection from Democrat Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who sided with Republicans to reject President Biden’s effort to shut down new drilling projects. The move signals rare bipartisan agreement that Biden’s “green” restrictions have gone too far, hurting American jobs and driving up energy costs.
Under Biden’s 2022 plan, only 52% of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve was open for drilling—down sharply from 82% under President Trump’s policy, which unleashed U.S. energy dominance and created thousands of good-paying jobs.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), who led the resolution, said the reversal will “benefit North Slope communities with jobs and economic growth, while strengthening their tax base to fund essential services like water systems and clinics.”
If the Republican-controlled House follows suit—as expected—the measure will head to President Trump, who has vowed to bring back American energy and end reliance on foreign oil once and for all.
Originally set aside in 1923 by President Warren Harding as a backup fuel supply for the U.S. Navy, Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve has become one of the nation’s most vital energy resources. However, Biden’s so-called “climate protection” policies have drastically reduced its potential, stifling production, hurting local communities, and driving energy prices higher for American families.
Thursday’s vote, held under the Congressional Review Act, allows the Senate to repeal harmful regulations with a simple majority. It marks another decisive step by Trump and the GOP to reverse Biden’s anti-energy agenda and put American workers, taxpayers, and consumers first again.