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Published on January 21, 2025
Texas AG Ken Paxton Sues Biden Administration Over Offshore Drilling Ban as Presidency EndsSource: Unsplash/Tingey Injury Law Firm

In a sweeping last-minute legal challenge, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against President Joe Biden's administration over its decision to ban offshore drilling in certain areas, a move Paxton deems an overreach of executive power. As the Biden era closes, Paxton partners with oil and gas company W&T Offshore, Inc. in a lawsuit lodged in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas Lufkin Division, a push to keep the nation's offshore drilling sites open for business.

The legal action, reported by the Texas Attorney General's office, challenges the president's authority to indefinitely halt drilling on parts of the Outer Continental Shelf, an act Paxton claims violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. According to Paxton, this restriction not only exceeds Biden's statutory limits but it puts America's energy security at risk, having filed 106 lawsuits against the administration and emerged victorious in the majority of them, Attorney General Paxton continues his legal winning streak against what he perceives as unconstitutional maneuvers by Biden and his team.

Known for his aggressive stance against federal overreach, Paxton said, "In 2021, I became the first State Attorney General to sue Biden just three days into his failed administration, now, I will be the last AG to sue Biden on his way out of Washington," as he reflected on his legal battles throughout Biden's presidency. Looking forward, Paxton envisions a return to the policies of former President Donald Trump, who is set to take the oath of office once again, marking a potential shift in energy policy and regulation, as per the Texas Attorney General.

As the Biden administration winds down, this last-ditch lawsuit emphasizes a deep ideological divide over environmental stewardship versus economic growth and energy independence; Paxton's legal challenge stands as a testament to the contentious four years under President Biden, a period marked by significant policy swings and heightened legal confrontations. With Trump waiting in the wings, Paxton's efforts may pave the way for a stark change in direction as the incoming administration prepares to reassess the prior administration's legacy, especially in the realm of energy and environmental regulation.