Controversial Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sale proceeds under Biden administration.

The Biden administration held a massive Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sale, offering 73.3 million acres of federal waters for oil and gas drilling to energy developers, despite pleas from climate activists to block all new fossil fuel leasing. The sale garnered bids worth $263.8 million for 313 tracts spanning 1.6 million acres, making it one of the largest in U.S. history. The fossil fuel industry applauded the sale but reiterated previous calls for consistent leasing in the Gulf of Mexico. Environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit challenging the administration's authority to hold the sale.