North Shore Louisiana News

JEFFERSON, La. — In a significant blow to the Biden Administration's energy policies, a federal judge has ordered a halt to a decision that would have reduced the acreage of Lease Sale 261 and imposed additional restrictions on operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The court ruling comes after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) raised concerns about the administration's back room deal with radical environmentalists, which he argues violated the law and circumvented Congress.

"I applaud the Court for correctly deciding that the Biden Administration violated the law and circumvented Congress in their latest attempt to shut down energy exploration and production in the Gulf," said Leader Scalise. "In a back room deal with radical anti-American energy extremists, the Biden Administration not only put nearly 20 percent of our nation’s domestically-produced oil and gas at risk but also acted illegally in disregarding federal law, failing to seek proper input from the public, and completely dismissing the significant impact this would have on funding for coastal restoration in Louisiana and other Gulf coast states."

This ruling is seen as a victory for the rule of law and for American families and small businesses who have voiced their frustration over what they perceive as secret deals between the current administration and radical special interest groups. Critics argue that such deals could make America more dependent on foreign countries for its energy needs.

Leader Scalise had previously led a letter to federal agencies in August, demanding more information about the agreement and questioning the legality of the decision. The full text of the letter can be found here.