SC Alaska News

The U.S. Senate has voted 50 to 46 to approve a joint resolution led by Senators Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, both Republicans from Alaska, aimed at overturning the Biden administration’s Central Yukon Resource Management Plan (CYRMP). The plan, finalized in November 2024, set new restrictions on resource development and land access in the Central Yukon region. The House of Representatives passed a companion resolution introduced by Congressman Nick Begich, also a Republican from Alaska, on September 3. The legislation now moves to President Biden for consideration.

Senator Sullivan criticized the CYRMP as an example of federal overreach, stating, “The Biden administration’s Central Yukon Resource Management Plan was an egregious case of federal overreach and just one of the administration’s 70 executive orders and actions singularly focused on harming Alaska, our economy, and our working families.” He added, “This particular scheme effectively locked up millions of acres of Alaska’s land, ignored Alaska Native voices, undermined long-standing federal law, and blocked access to critical mineral, energy, gravel, and material resources that our local communities, state and nation need. As I said in my remarks on the floor today, these issues of access to lands and responsible resource development are not just theoretical. Over time, they actually impact the very health and livelihoods of my constituents. I wish more of my Senate Democratic colleagues would’ve respected this fact, shown some courage, crossed the far-left Lower 48 eco-colonialist groups endlessly trying to lock up our state, and stood with Alaskans. I do want to thank a majority of our colleagues in the Senate—and of our House colleagues in early September—for standing with me, Senator Murkowski and Congressman Begich, and helping to ensure Alaska’s resources are managed responsibly for the benefit of our people, economy, and national security.”

Senator Murkowski explained her support for the resolution: “Senator Sullivan and I advanced this disapproval resolution for the Central Yukon RMP because the 1,800-page plan finalized last year – over our objections – unnecessarily restricted access to millions of acres of Alaska and kept obsolete Public Land Orders in place. Re-opening the Central Yukon RMP will allow BLM to develop a more balanced plan that complies with numerous federal laws – including ANCSA, ANILCA, and ALTAA – as well as the fundamental principle of multiple use on public land. I expect a new final plan to address long-standing access issues, provide greater opportunity for economic development, including key energy and mineral resources, and ensure Alaska Native landowners in the region can maximize the use of their own lands while still protecting subsistence and conserving where truly necessary.”

Congressman Begich also commented: “The Biden-era Central Yukon plan locked up millions of acres of land and cut off access to resources critical to our national and economic security in Alaska. With Senate passage of this resolution, we are re-opening opportunity in one of Alaska’s most impoverished regions. By continuing to restore Alaska’s ability to responsibly develop its own resources, we strengthen America’s national security and lower costs for working families across our state. I am proud to see this legislation head to the President’s desk and grateful for the work of Senator Murkowski and Senator Sullivan to get this across the finish line as we continue to unlock Alaska’s resource potential.”

The Congressional Review Act (CRA) allows Congress to overturn certain federal agency regulations through a joint resolution of disapproval. Such resolutions bypass standard Senate procedures and require only a simple majority vote in both chambers. If signed by the President or if Congress overrides a presidential veto, the regulation is invalidated.

In February 2025, Alaska’s congressional delegation asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) whether the CYRMP Record of Decision qualified as a “rule” under CRA guidelines. The GAO concluded in June 2025 that it did qualify. This triggered the CRA timeline for congressional action.

The legislation is aligned with a previous executive order from President Trump directing the Secretary of the Interior to rescind the CYRMP and reinstate an earlier draft plan. The bill does not change conservation designations established by existing laws or automatically approve specific projects such as Ambler Access Project.

Supporters of this CRA resolution include Doyon Limited (an Alaska Native Corporation), regional tribal organizations from North Slope Alaska, mining associations, business groups such as Americans for Prosperity and National Federation of Independent Business, and former members of the Trump administration.