In the first few hours of his second presidency, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that could pave the way for oil drilling in North Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of the last great wildernesses left in the US.

Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office Monday, aligning with Alaska Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy for drilling in the state to expand.

President Donald Trump's expansive executive order aimed at boosting oil and gas drilling, mining and logging in Alaska is being cheered by state political leaders who see new fossil fuel development as critical to Alaska's economic future and criticized by environmental groups that see the proposals as worrying in the face

Dunleavy offered no opinion on Trump's decision to rename Denali as Mount McKinley, saying he wanted to speak with the president before sharing his own view.

The decision to again lift limits on roadless-area development sets up a rematch over the Tongass National Forest.