White House steel release cites Alaska road but announces no new Ambler action

A White House release Monday listed an Alaska road among mining policies President Donald Trump reversed, but it announced nothing new. The road's federal authorizations were issued or reissued nearly a year ago.

The release promoted a $15 billion Mesabi Metallics steel mill in Iowa, projected to create 1,750 permanent jobs, up to 6,000 construction jobs and $95 billion in economic activity over a decade. Tying mining to steel, it said the Biden administration "blocked a 211-mile road in Alaska that would've opened a major copper and cobalt district," matching the proposed Ambler Road from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District.

In June 2024, the Bureau of Land Management chose the No Action Alternative, terminating its right-of-way grant. Trump approved an appeal from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority on Oct. 6, 2025. BLM reissued the 50-year grant Oct. 21, and the National Park Service issued its Gates of the Arctic permit that same day.

The Alatna Village Council opposes the road. Chief Jerry Sam said it "will offer very few jobs and bring too many trespassers." Allakaket, Ruby and Hughes have endorsed it.