Environmental organizations filed a lawsuit in the federal district court for the District of Alaska challenging President Trump’s executive order that purported to reverse President Biden’s withdrawals of certain areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf in the Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico from future oil and gas leasing. The organizations contended that President Trump’s order violated the separation powers by exceeding his authority under Article II of the U.S. Constitution and intruding on Congress’s power under the Property Clause and that he lacked authority for the reversal under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). They asked the court for declaratory relief and an injunction blocking the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce from complying with or relying on the executive order’s provisions rescinding the withdrawals.

Challenge to President Trump's executive order reversing President Biden’s withdrawals of certain areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf in the Arctic, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans and Gulf of Mexico from future oil and gas development.

Northern Alaska Environmental Center v. Trump

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Environmental Group Lawsuits Challenged President Trump’s Order Reopening Outer Continental Shelf Lands for New Oil and Gas Leasing

Filed

United States of America

Alaska

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Environmental Group Lawsuits Challenged President Trump’s Order Reopening Outer Continental Shelf Lands for New Oil and Gas Leasing

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Just transition

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance