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Wisconsin AG seeks to stop Elon Musk's $1M payments at rally giveaway; Rural advocates urge CA lawmakers to safeguard banking protections; Federal, state job cuts threaten FL workers' rights, services; Alabama counties lack high-speed internet and health access.

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President Trump says there are ways for him to take a third term. New tariffs are scheduled for this week, but economists say they'll hurt buying power. And advocates say the Trans Day of Visibility is made more important by state legislation.

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Rural folks face significant clean air and water risks due to EPA cutbacks, a group of policymakers is working to expand rural health care via mobile clinics, and a new study maps Montana's news landscape.

Trump administration faces lawsuits over oil and gas drilling

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Tuesday, February 25, 2025   

Several environmental groups concerned about increased offshore drilling have a filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration.

The suit challenges an order by the president to revoke former President Joe Biden's withdrawal of areas of the ocean from future oil and gas leasing. Another related suit wants the court to reinstate a federal ruling that invalidated an attempt by the first Trump administration to undo Obama-era offshore protections.

Christian Wagley, coastal organizer for the advocacy coalition Healthy Gulf, said the suits will not affect current oil and gas drilling in Texas.

"The vast majority of the offshore drilling in the United States takes place in the central and western gulf," Wagley pointed out. "That's Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and they would not be affected by any of this."

He added if drilling is expanded, it could destroy the ecosystem along the coast.

Devorah Ancel, Environmental Law Program senior attorney for the Sierra Club, which is a plaintiff in one of the lawsuits, said Biden's actions acknowledged the harm expanded drilling could cause in coastal communities and argued President Donald Trump's actions are illegal.

"We are challenging that based on statutory grounds as well as constitutional grounds," Ancel outlined. "The president has violated the property clause of the Constitution, which gives Congress the exclusive authority to regulate federal lands and waters."

Trump said boosting fossil-fuel production is essential to meeting energy demand and maintaining U.S. leadership in global energy markets, but Ancel countered claims the protections would disturb U.S. energy security are untrue.

Disclosure: The Sierra Club contributes to our fund for reporting on Climate Change/Air Quality, Energy Policy, Environment, and Environmental Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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