"The Trump administration said this week that its recent sale of the rights to drill in a contentious area of Alaska generated record revenue for federal oil and gas lease sales.

The news signals optimism from the oil industry that high energy prices could persist — as expanding oil and gas drilling can be years-long endeavors.

“.@Interior held a landmark oil and gas lease sale today for the NPR-A [National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska] resulting in 187 leases and $163,696,722 in total receipts,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wrote in a social media post. 

 “The sale, the first under @POTUS’ One Big Beautiful Bill, made history for the most revenue generated ever in a single sale,” Burgum added."

Rachel Frazin reports for The Hill March 19, 2026. [2]