Biden Administration Sued for Halting Oil, Gas Leasing on Federal Lands

President Joe Biden speaks about the coronavirus pandemic in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 26, 2021. Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images

The Biden administration was sued on Jan. 27 over its executive order to halt oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters.

The lawsuit (pdf) was filed in the U.S. District Court in Wyoming by the Western Energy Alliance, a group representing fossil fuel producers on federal lands. They say President Joe Biden exceeded his authority with the recent order.