Press Releases

Today, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced the start of a new effort to streamline permitting for oil and gas infrastructure in the approximately 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The effort comes in response to a petition for rulemaking from the Alaska Oil and Gas Association that requested the Bureau of Land Management amend its regulations to create a new development permit program in the petroleum reserve.

During Police Week 2026, the Department of the Interior honors the courage, service, and sacrifice of law enforcement officers who protect the nation’s public lands, natural resources, and communities every day. Interior law enforcement personnel serve in some of the most remote, challenging and culturally significant landscapes in the United States, ensuring visitor safety, safeguarding irreplaceable resources and supporting local communities.

The Department of the Interior today announced a proposed rule to improve visitor access at Denali National Park and Preserve by updating outdated vehicle use regulations for the historic Denali Park Road. 

The Department of the Interior approved the nation’s first-ever tribal energy resource agreement, increasing the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s sovereign authority to manage and develop energy resources on its lands while reducing federal bureaucracy. This step strengthens tribal self‑determination and supports broader efforts to advance U.S. Energy Dominance by ensuring affordable, reliable and domestically produced energy in the United States, furthering the objectives of Executive Order 14154 “Unleashing American Energy.”

Alaska – Today, the Department of the Interior announced a major Alaska statehood land transfer to convey approximately 1.4 million acres of land along the Dalton Utility Corridor to the State of Alaska. With conveyance of these lands north of the Yukon River, the Bureau of Land Management has fulfilled more than 96% of the state’s entitlement under the Alaska Statehood Act, expanding Alaska’s opportunities for resource development, strengthening local economies, and enhancing the state’s control of its own economic destiny.

The Department of the Interior is launching a new Indian Country Violent Crime Task Force to strengthen law enforcement coordination, protect families in tribal communities, and crack down on violent crime and drug activity.

Today, the Department of the Interior announced two additional separate agreements to promote U.S. energy security and affordability following the model of its recent deal with TotalEnergies. Under the new agreements, Bluepoint Wind and Golden State Wind have each separately agreed to voluntarily end their offshore wind leases, with the respective affiliate companies agreeing to make financial investments in reliable conventional energy projects.

The Department of the Interior today announced the completion and reopening of the rehabilitated Tidal Basin and Potomac River seawalls, marking a significant infrastructure milestone supported by President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act. Following a ribbon‑cutting ceremony led by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the newly restored area is now open for public access.

The Department of the Interior completed a three-day probate outreach event this past week on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona, where staff met with community members in two locations to offer direct support and trust services. The event, hosted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, reached 333 families and provided hands-on help with probate cases, realty needs and trust fund account management.

The Department of the Interior today announced the start of a phased plan to establish the Marine Minerals Administration, bringing together the functions of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. This action is intended to improve coordination and increase efficiencies across offshore leasing, permitting, inspections and environmental oversight, while maintaining all existing regulatory protections and rigorous safety standards.