In a major development for Alaska energy and mining sectors, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order Monday approving the 211-mile access road to the Ambler Mining District. The decision reverses the 2024 rejection of the road under the Biden administration.
The project is designed to open remote Northwest Alaska’s copper, cobalt, gold, zinc, and other critical mineral deposits. The U.S. government has committed $35.6 million to Trilogy Metals, acquiring a 10% ownership stake and warrants for an additional 7.5%.
Supporters, including Alaska’s congressional delegation and state officials, praise the move as a boon for economic growth, jobs, and enhancing U.S. supply chain security for essential minerals.
But the decision has raised concerns among environmental groups and Indigenous communities. Critics warn about threats to salmon streams, caribou migration, and subsistence living, especially along the proposed route crossing wilderness and federal protected lands.
Ambler Road is now set to move ahead. Federal agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been directed to issue the required permits.
