Donald Trump administration sells off Alaskan oil rights before leaving office

Before President Donald Trump’s term comes to an end, his administration sold off 11 oil leases in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday. 

Out of the 11 leases, nine were auctioned off to a state agency,  Alaska Industrial Development Authority, while the remaining two were sold to relatively smaller companies. 

The revenue generated from the sales were near $14 million. 

The plan for this sale was announced soon after President Donald Trump lost the reelection to Joe Biden. 

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The environmentally sensitive area was long sought by petroleum companies after the authorisation for drilling was given in 2017. 

Kate McGregor, the Deputy Secretary of the Interior Department said the deal was a “historic moment” and will have implications that will benefit both Alaskans and the rest of the US. 

The Alaska Wilderness League blasted the move and condemned the sale as “an utter failure,” which is “less than one percent of the $1.8 billion promised by the Tax Act when the Arctic Refuge leasing was mandated,” the environmental group said on Twitter.

“We will not stop fighting to #ProtecttheArctic!”