By SUZANNE DOWNING
Feb. 20, 2026 – Alaska history was made today in Washington, DC. In what is a generational victory for Alaska, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed an order transferring more than two million acres of federal land to the State of Alaska.
The order transfers approximately 2.1 million acres, includes land along the haul road — the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) corridor and the proposed Ambler Road route.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy was in DC for the official signing and spoke after the official signing, saying the action fulfills some of the long-delayed commitments made to Alaska under the 1959 Statehood Act, and strengthens the state’s ability to manage and develop its own resources.
“For decades we were wondering when we were going to get the additional lands that were selected by state, conveyed to state, so state can fulfill its part of the bargain,” of supporting itself, an expectation made at statehood in 1959, he said. “The future gas line, haul road. — it’s critical to the survival of Alaska and the growth of Alaska. I didn’t think this could ever happen. This is testament to the president and a testament to people he brought on, like Secretary Burgum.”
Friday’s action undoing that federal land seizure is a major milestone for the Alaska Statehood Defense Initiative, which was launched by Gov. Mike Dunleavy in 2021.
The governor’s initiative is a legal and policy effort aimed at asserting state control over land, water, and natural resources, frequently challenging federal regulations. Supported by $10 million in the FY24 budget, the initiative uses external legal counsel to push back against federal overreach, particularly regarding submerged lands under navigable waters and resource development.which has pushed for decades to secure lands promised to the state but never fully conveyed by the federal government.
The acreage transferred includes strategic tracts along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System corridor , the Dalton Highway, and the proposed Ambler Road, both considered critical to Alaska’s energy and mineral future.
The transfer strengthens Alaska’s hand in advancing long-term projects such as the Alaska LNG pipeline and expanded North Slope resource development. It will likely have both immediate and long-term impacts, such as expanding mineral exploration opportunities, increasing public access to lands previously under federal control, greater state oversight of infrastructure tied to TAPS, and economic development and job creation.
Under the Alaska Statehood Act, the federal government committed to transferring 105 million acres to the new state. While substantial acreage has been conveyed over the decades, state officials and advocates argue that tens of millions of acres remain outstanding.
The 2.1 million-acre transfer is a sign that the Trump Administration is moving to honor those commitments.
Indeed, President Donald Trump has emphasized resource development and domestic energy production in his Alaska policy agenda from Day One of his second term in office.
Last year, the Department of the Interior announced the conveyance of nearly 28,000 acres of land to NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., under Section 12(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, or ANCSA.
