Trump administration transfers 1.4 million acres along Dalton corridor to Alaska in major statehood land conveyance

By THE ALASKA STORY

May 6, 2026 – The federal government on Wednesday announced one of the largest Alaska statehood land transfers in years, conveying approximately 1.4 million acres along the Dalton Utility Corridor to the State of Alaska and bringing the state more than 96% of the way toward fulfillment of its land entitlement under the Alaska Statehood Act.

The transfer, announced by the US Department of the Interior, includes lands north of the Yukon River tied to some of Alaska’s most strategically important transportation and energy corridors, including portions associated with the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, the Dalton Highway, and proposed routes for the Alaska LNG Project and Ambler Road.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum framed the move as part of the Trump administration’s broader push to accelerate resource development in Alaska.

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“This decisive action puts Alaska at the forefront of American Energy Dominance,” Burgum said in a statement. “President Trump is delivering on his commitment to unleash Alaska’s vast resources—advancing the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas project, the Ambler Road, and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline—to strengthen our economy, bolster national security, and drive down costs for American families.”

The conveyance follows Public Land Order 7966, issued in February 2026, which opened approximately 2.1 million acres within the corridor for selection under the Alaska Statehood Act and for location and entry under federal mining and public land laws. The order also validated long-standing “top filed” selections — lands Alaska had previously sought to acquire but which had remained unavailable for conveyance.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy praised the move as a major victory for Alaska’s long-running effort to secure the lands promised at statehood.

“On behalf of the State of Alaska, I want to thank Interior Secretary Burgum and his dedicated staff for completing the transfer of the Dalton Utility Corridor to state ownership,” Dunleavy said. “This milestone represents a leap forward in advancing Alaska’s ability to responsibly develop its resources and advance economic opportunity across Alaska.”

He added, “President Trump delivered when other presidents did not.”

The Bureau of Land Management said the transfer leaves Alaska with approximately 3.8 million acres remaining out of the state’s original 105-million-acre entitlement under the Alaska Statehood Act.

BLM Alaska State Director Kevin Pendergast said previous restrictions had stalled progress on completing the statehood obligation.

“For far too long, we have been at a relative standstill on statehood entitlements because these critically important lands were off the table,” Pendergast said.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources said it is continuing a public process to evaluate how the transfer could affect public access in the region.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner-designee John Crowther credited department staff for years of work securing the conveyance.

“This transfer is the result of extraordinary work by dedicated Department of Natural Resources staff to secure these long-promised critical infrastructure lands,” Crowther said.

The corridor is viewed by state officials as central to Alaska’s future infrastructure and resource development plans. In addition to the existing Dalton Highway and Trans-Alaska Pipeline corridor, the area could play a major role in future mining access and natural gas transportation projects.

The announcement also aligns with Executive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422, both titled “Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential,” part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to reverse federal restrictions on resource development in Alaska and expand domestic energy production.