"Judge Orders US Government to Expand Gulf Oil Auction Despite Environmental Concerns"

A federal court has granted a preliminary injunction to block the Biden administration's restrictions on an upcoming offshore oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. The court ruled that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) must proceed with the lease sale under its original conditions, rejecting the administration's attempt to remove six million acres from the sale and impose restrictions on oil and gas vessels. The court criticized the administration's actions as a political reassessment of offshore drilling and a weaponization of the Endangered Species Act. Industry groups welcomed the decision, emphasizing the importance of the lease sale for energy security and economic growth.