Congressional Republicans have passed legislation repealing key Biden‐era land management restrictions on mining, drilling and development across three Western US states, a move that directly supports President Donald Trump’s push to expand energy production on public lands. The rollbacks affect large tracts in Alaska, Montana and North Dakota and mirror the administration’s broader deregulatory plans.

Acting under the Congressional Review Act, the Senate approved the rescissions in a 50–46 vote following earlier House approval. The measures would immediately nullify regulations promulgated late in the Biden presidency, removing obstacles to development projects such as mineral extraction and fossil fuel access. In Alaska, critics say the repeal clears the way for the controversial Ambler Road project, which would provide infrastructure for mining operations in remote wilderness areas.

Supporters argue the changes are necessary to restore economic opportunity, assert U.S. mineral and energy security, and reduce dependence on foreign sources of critical minerals. They contend prior restrictions amounted to overreach that stifled investment and job creation. Opponents warn that the rollback undermines environmental protections, weakens climate goals, and might provoke legal challenges over agency authority and procedural safeguards.

These legislative actions dovetail with executive moves by the Trump administration to expedite permitting and deregulate mineral production. A White House presidential directive titled “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production” outlines plans to resuscitate domestic supply chains and ease federal regulatory burdens.

While the rescissions mark a significant victory for the administration’s energy and mining priorities, the final phase now depends on President Trump’s signature. This shift signals a turning point in US public lands policy, with possible long­term implications for resource management, climate resilience, and federal land use jurisprudence.