Congress moves to block Arctic oil leasing in Alaska's Coastal Plain
S.J.Res. 91 — A joint resolution 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". · Filed by Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Oct 28, 2025 · Reported out
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What it does
This joint resolution uses the Congressional Review Act to disapprove and nullify the Bureau of Land Management's December 2024 decision to proceed with oil and gas leasing in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain. If passed, the rule is voided and cannot be re-issued in substantially the same form without new congressional authorization.
Why we flagged it
This is a straightforward Congressional Review Act disapproval resolution targeting a specific BLM rule. It uses the procedural mechanism Congress created to overturn agency rules, applied here to block Arctic oil and gas leasing authorization.
What the text implies
- If passed, the rule cannot be re-issued in substantially the same form without new congressional action, effectively requiring legislative approval for any future Coastal Plain leasing program.
- The resolution's passage would likely trigger litigation from oil and gas companies challenging the CRA's application to the BLM record of decision, potentially reaching the Supreme Court on the definition of 'rule' under the Administrative Procedure Act.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who it affects
Disapproving the leasing rule preserves the Coastal Plain's current environmental and wilderness status, protecting a globally significant Arctic ecosystem from industrial development. Citizens retain access to undeveloped public lands and avoid potential environmental harms from oil extraction in a sensitive region.