Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to "Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision".
Term Dictionary
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- Congress.gov Legislative Glossary - Comprehensive congressional terms
- NVFC Congressional Terms Glossary - Concise, easy-to-understand definitions
Summary
Congress moves to block a Bureau of Land Management decision that would allow oil and gas drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain. This joint resolution uses the Congressional Review Act to nullify the December 2024 leasing program, preventing companies from obtaining drilling permits in the protected area. The measure passed both House and Senate and now awaits the President's signature.
Overview
- Congress disapproves the Bureau of Land Management's Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision issued December 9, 2024
- Uses Congressional Review Act authority under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, to nullify the rule
- Passed House November 18, 2025, and Senate December 4, 2025; now awaits Presidential action
Who does this affect?
- Main groups: Oil and gas companies seeking drilling permits in Arctic Alaska, environmental organizations, Alaska Native communities living near the Coastal Plain, wildlife dependent on the refuge ecosystem
- Who benefits/loses: Environmental groups and drilling opponents benefit from blocking new leases; energy companies and drilling proponents lose access to potential oil and gas reserves in the 1.6 million-acre Coastal Plain area
- Teen impact score: 4/10 (symbolic environmental policy with indirect climate/energy implications)
What This Bill Does
- Invokes Congressional Review Act to overturn a specific Bureau of Land Management administrative decision from December 9, 2024
- Government Accountability Office determined on August 25, 2025, that the BLM Record of Decision qualifies as a rule subject to Congressional Review Act procedures
- If enacted, the disapproved rule will have no legal force or effect, preventing implementation of the oil and gas leasing program
- Blocks the Bureau of Land Management from issuing new drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain under the nullified decision
Legislative Status
- Passed House of Representatives on November 18, 2025
- Passed Senate and message sent to House on December 4, 2025
- Now awaits Presidential signature or veto
In short
- Congress voted to cancel a government plan that would let oil companies drill in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
- The Bureau of Land Management approved this drilling program in December 2024, but Congress is using special review powers to block it.
- Both the House and Senate passed this disapproval resolution.
- If the President signs it, no new oil and gas leases can be issued under that specific plan.
- The fight centers on balancing energy development against protecting one of America's largest wilderness areas.
Why should I care?
This resolution represents a direct clash between energy development and environmental protection in one of America's most pristine wilderness areas. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain is home to polar bears, caribou, and migratory birds, but also sits atop significant oil and gas reserves. The outcome affects long-term energy policy, climate change efforts, and wilderness preservation. For Alaska Native communities, the decision impacts both traditional subsistence practices and potential economic opportunities. Whether the President signs or vetoes this resolution will signal priorities on domestic energy production versus conservation, with implications for future public lands decisions nationwide.