**Biden Administration Moves to Limit Oil Drilling in Arctic Refuge Following Trump's 2024 Election Win**

In a decisive move, the Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it is taking steps to restrict oil drilling activities in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, less than a day after former President Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 election. This region, a pristine natural habitat in northeast Alaska, has long been protected due to its diverse range of threatened species.

Historically, oil drilling in the Arctic refuge was banned for decades. However, during the first term of the Trump administration, a law was enacted requiring the federal government to conduct two lease sales for fossil fuel drilling in the area. The first of these sales took place in 2021 but was subsequently suspended and canceled by the Interior Department due to a lack of interest from the oil industry.

According to the Trump-era law, a second lease sale must be held before the end of 2024. The Biden administration is fulfilling this requirement by planning an auction for 400,000 acres— the minimum amount of land it can legally offer for lease. This move aligns with the administration's broader efforts to preserve President Joe Biden’s environmental accomplishments, including significant measures to combat climate change.

President-elect Trump has frequently mentioned the oil reserves in ANWR during his campaign rallies, often referring to them as "liquid gold." While President Biden approved the significant Willow oil drilling project on Alaska's North Slope, his administration has simultaneously enacted protective measures to limit drilling in other parts of Alaska.

Environmental advocates have welcomed the announcement. "Today's action by the Biden administration better protects the Arctic Refuge, and for that, we are grateful," Kristen Miller, executive director of the Alaska Wilderness League, said. "The fight to save the Arctic Refuge is back, and we are ready for the next four years."

However, the decision has sparked criticism from some Alaska Native groups, who argue that limiting drilling could harm the local economy, which heavily relies on revenue from such activities. North Slope Borough Mayor Josiah Patkotak expressed his concerns, stating, "It seems that once again the people of the North Slope are being told that our voices and lived experience are insufficient, and that federal laws passed by Congress mean little in the eyes of the Biden administration's Department of the Interior."

The unfolding situation highlights the ongoing clash between economic interests and environmental conservation efforts in one of the nation's most sensitive and valuable natural sanctuaries.