Sierra Club Statement on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Oil and Gas Lease Sale

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Trump administration held an oil and gas lease sale for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, continuing its efforts to expand drilling across Alaska's public lands despite ongoing legal challenges, widespread public opposition, and concerns from Indigenous communities and conservation advocates.

In response, Athan Manuel, Sierra Club's Director of Lands Protection, released the following statement:

"Today's lease sale was another embarrassment and broken promise. The Trump Administration has pushed leasing out the Arctic Refuge as the way to finance huge tax cuts, yet today generated $3.7 million for the federal government.

"Let's call that what it is, another scam to trick Americans into giving away our precious natural world. It does nothing to change the reality that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge remains a risky, controversial, and fundamentally flawed proposition. For years, the public was promised that sacrificing the Refuge would generate significant economic benefits. Instead, this leasing program has been plagued by uncertainty while putting one of America's most important public lands at risk.

"The Arctic Refuge is one of America's last wild places, and provides critical habitat for wildlife, including the Porcupine Caribou Herd, and sustains the traditions and livelihoods of the Gwich'in people, who have opposed drilling on these sacred lands for decades. It is too important to sacrifice for another oil industry giveaway. Sierra Club will continue challenging these attacks alongside the communities that have spent decades defending this extraordinary place."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.