President signs chaos-triggering public lands resolutions into law

WASHINGTON D.C. (Dec. 11, 2025) — President Trump signed into law five Congressional Review Act resolutions that overturn critical protections in America’s Arctic and threaten to destabilize the management of the nation’s public lands.  

The resolutions rolled back a leasing plan for the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and resource management plans governing BLM lands in the Central Yukon (Alaska), Miles City (Montana), Buffalo (Wyoming) and North Dakota field offices. Last week, the president also signed into law a rollback of the integrated activity plan for the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, in the Western Arctic.  

Alison Flint, senior legal director at The Wilderness Society, made the following statement about these resolutions being signed into law:   

“Americans deserve public lands that protect clean air and water, support wildlife and preserve the freedom of future generations to explore.  Instead, the president and Congress have muzzled voices in local communities and tossed aside science-based management plans that would deliver a balanced approach to managing our public lands. And meanwhile, even as the Congress seeks ways to permit development projects faster and better, they have thrown years of permits into question with this action. The public deserves better.” 

Contact: newsmedia@tws.org /  mgreenberg@tws.org