by Thomas Catenacci
A coalition of 13 states sued President Joe Biden’s administration Wednesday over its January ban of new oil and gas leasing on federal lands.
The 13-state coalition argued that President Joe Biden’s Jan. 27 executive order banning new oil and gas leases on federal lands was unlawful, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announced the lawsuit alongside state lawmakers and energy officials.
“By executive fiat, Joe Biden and his administration have single-handedly driven the price of energy up — costing the American people where it hurts most, in their pocketbooks,” Landry said during a press conference Wednesday. “Biden’s Executive Orders abandon middle-class jobs at a time when America needs them most and put our energy security in the hands of foreign countries, many of whom despise America’s greatness.”
Biden’s executive order violated both the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Mineral Leasing Act, which affirm Congress’ intent to use U.S. resources to achieve energy independence, the lawsuit alleged. The leasing ban forces the U.S. to be more dependent on foreign energy sources.
“For decades, Congress has embraced responsible development of our natural resources as a means of achieving energy independence – a matter of national security,” Landry said. “They have discarded vulnerable dependence on foreign oil, which is why the court should reject the Biden Ban.”
While the purpose of Biden’s executive action is to fight climate change, the action amounts to a massive divestment of environmental protection projects, according to Landry.
Biden’s executive order will ultimately devastate communities that rely on federal oil and gas leases, the lawsuit stated.
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and West Virginia were listed as plaintiffs on the suit Wednesday.
Days before he signed the executive order, Biden directed the Department of Interior to pause existing oil and natural gas leases on public lands and offshore waters. The agency is conducting a review of the current leases.
The announcement is the latest lawsuit filed by a state against the Biden administration. A coalition of 21 states sued Biden on March 17, arguing he overstepped his constitutional authority when he revoked the federal permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline on his first day in office.
Twelve states sued the Biden administration over its climate policies on March 8. One day later, two states sued the administration over its immigration policies.
A group of Republican attorneys general threatened further legal action against the Biden administration in a letter to Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last week. The 21 attorneys general demanded clarity on Biden’s position regarding state tax policy.
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Thomas Catenacci is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
