A federal court in Alaska, US, has dismissed a lawsuit filed by environmental groups opposing President Donald Trump’s decision to permit offshore drilling in areas previously placed off limits, reported Reuters.
US District Judge Sharon Gleason ruled on 24 August that the legal action brought by organisations including the Northern Alaska Environmental Center was premature as drilling in the affected federal waters is not currently imminent.
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Judge Gleason did not address whether the president has authority to reverse his predecessors’ restrictions on offshore drilling.
She indicated that the plaintiffs could bring the case again should actual offshore leasing or drilling efforts commence in the disputed zones.
The lawsuit, lodged in February 2025, argued that President Trump had exceeded his legal powers by seeking to open protected coastal areas to oil and gas activities.
Environmental groups claimed that such actions could cause “significant, wide-ranging adverse impacts” on endangered species, sensitive ecosystems and local Native American communities.
Earthjustice’s Oceans Programme senior attorney George Torgun said: “We are disappointed the court found that offshore drilling activities are not imminent. This administration has been doing everything in its power to open our coasts to fossil fuel development.
“We continue to maintain that President Trump’s attempt to open withdrawn areas for oil leasing is unlawful, and we intend to pursue those claims if and when offshore activities are on the horizon.”
Prior to Trump’s move, most US coastal waters had been subject to restrictions set by former President Joe Biden.
Trump reversed these measures soon after taking office, issuing executive orders aimed at supporting oil and gas production and rolling back Biden’s climate initiatives.
