Biden Administration Going to Any Length to Protect Its Agenda – Even Ignoring Court Orders

August 17, 2021

When it comes to implementing their energy and environmental policies, the Biden administration has always taken the side of environmental activists rather than energy experts. But while the administration has not been inclined to listen to its opponents or critics, one might have thought they would at least be compelled to listen to the courts. Sadly, not.

A Louisiana-based U.S. District Court Judge issued an order last June temporarily blocking the administration’s pause on new oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters. This preliminary injunction followed lawsuits from 13 states. The administration’s response to this was… nothing. Despite the court order two months ago, the administration continued its pause on new leasing.

Flash forward to yesterday, when the American Petroleum Institute and 11 other industry groups filed another lawsuit to force the Biden administration to comply with the law and allow for the new leasing – something a federal judge already told them to do.

Shortly after API’s announcement, Reuters reported:

The Biden administration on Monday challenged a federal judge’s decision in June to block the Interior Department’s pause on oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters – a critical piece of its climate change policy – but will proceed with leasing during the appeals process.

It is undoubtedly good that the administration is now complying with the law and the courts and again proceeding with new leasing, but it is concerning that it took more threats of lawsuits to do it. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the lengths this administration will go to appease the eco-left activists in their base.