Judge Halts Trump-Era Reversal of Native Land Agreement in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve

Ruling pauses cancellation of Nuiqsut Trilateral right-of-way, likely reducing size of upcoming oil and gas lease sale.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:05am

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A federal judge has reinstated a conservation agreement that protected about 1 million acres of sensitive Arctic territory in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve. The ruling pauses the Trump administration's reversal of the Nuiqsut Trilateral right-of-way agreement, which gave local Native residents some control over oil development in the Teshekpuk Lake area. As a result, the upcoming oil and gas lease sale in the reserve will likely be smaller than originally planned by the Trump administration.

Why it matters

The Nuiqsut Trilateral agreement was an important conservation measure that balanced energy development with protecting the land rights and subsistence needs of the local Inupiat community. The judge's ruling suggests the Trump administration's abrupt cancellation of the agreement may have been illegal, raising questions about public notice, agency responsibilities, and the balance between energy interests and Native land rights in the region.

The details

The judge's ruling grants an injunction sought by the Nuiqsut Trilateral Inc., which comprises the Nuiqsut city and tribal governments and the Kuukpik Corporation. They argued the Trump administration acted illegally in December 2025 when it canceled the right-of-way agreement, which had given the Nuiqsut community some control over oil development in about 1 million acres around Teshekpuk Lake. As a result, the upcoming oil and gas lease sale planned by the Trump administration for 5.5 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve will likely have to exclude the Nuiqsut right-of-way territory.

  • The Nuiqsut Trilateral right-of-way agreement was announced by the Biden administration in 2024.
  • The Trump administration canceled the right-of-way agreement in December 2025.
  • The Nuiqsut parties filed a lawsuit in January 2026 challenging the cancellation.
  • The judge's ruling reinstating the agreement was issued on March 16, 2026.
  • The oil and gas lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve is scheduled for March 18, 2026.

The players

U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason

The judge who issued the ruling reinstating the Nuiqsut Trilateral right-of-way agreement.

Nuiqsut Trilateral Inc.

A coalition comprising the Nuiqsut city and tribal governments and the Kuukpik Corporation, the village's for-profit Native corporation, that filed the lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's cancellation of the right-of-way agreement.

Grandmothers Growing Goodness and The Wilderness Society

Environmental groups that filed a separate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's overall management plan for the National Petroleum Reserve and the upcoming lease sale.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

The federal agency that is conducting the oil and gas lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve.

Trump administration

The previous presidential administration that canceled the Nuiqsut Trilateral right-of-way agreement and opened up more of the National Petroleum Reserve to oil and gas leasing.

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What they’re saying

“Here, by contrast, the injury is the loss of Plaintiff's real property rights— a harm that Plaintiff has already experienced and continues to experience.”

— Judge Sharon Gleason, U.S. District Court Judge

“The 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' overturned protections in the petroleum reserve and mandated a series of lease sales to be held under the Trump management plan.”

— Paul Turcke, Justice Department attorney

What’s next

The judge has not yet ruled on the separate lawsuit filed by Grandmothers Growing Goodness and The Wilderness Society challenging the overall Trump administration management plan for the National Petroleum Reserve. The outcome of that ruling could further impact the upcoming oil and gas lease sale.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between energy development and environmental/Native land rights in Alaska's sensitive Arctic regions. The judge's ruling suggests the Trump administration may have acted illegally in unilaterally canceling the Nuiqsut Trilateral agreement, underscoring the importance of upholding agreements that balance diverse stakeholder interests in the management of public lands.