Multi-State Coalition, Led by Louisiana, Sues Biden Over Offshore Drilling Ban

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has filed a lawsuit against President Joe Biden, challenging his recent ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling, which she deems 'blatantly illegal.' The ban, enacted through executive orders on January 6, 2025, extends to 625 acres of ocean bottom across the Atlantic, Pacific, eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska. Murrill argues that Biden exceeded his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), claiming that only Congress can regulate offshore energy leasing. Joined by attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, and Mississippi, Murrill's lawsuit seeks an injunction to block the ban's immediate enforcement and aims for a permanent dismissal in federal court. She contends that the ban would severely impact the economy and livelihoods in Louisiana and beyond. Murrill's actions reflect a broader conflict over energy policy and state rights versus federal authority.