In a crushing blow to Biden’s anti-energy agenda, a federal judge has just ruled that the administration illegally canceled oil leases in Alaska, paving the way for American energy independence while environmentalists watch in horror.
At a Glance
- Federal Judge Sharon Gleason ruled the Department of Interior illegally canceled oil and gas leases on Alaska’s North Slope without a court order
- The Biden administration had previously suspended and then canceled the leases, falsely claiming the sale was flawed and illegal
- Judge cited the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which explicitly requires court approval for such lease cancellations
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced plans to open the entire 1.56 million-acre coastal plain for development
- The ruling promises significant benefits for Alaskan jobs and potential stabilization of global energy prices
Federal Judge Delivers Knockout Blow to Biden’s Energy Obstruction
While the Biden administration has been laser-focused on shutting down American energy production since day one, a federal judge in Anchorage just threw a massive wrench into those plans. Judge Sharon Gleason ruled that the Department of Interior acted completely outside the law when it arbitrarily canceled oil and gas leases on Alaska’s resource-rich North Slope. This isn’t just a technical legal victory – it’s a potential game-changer for American energy independence and could help rescue consumers from the sky-high gas prices we’ve all been suffering through thanks to this administration’s war on domestic energy.
The ruling centers on leases held by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), which the Biden administration targeted as part of its broader agenda to throttle American oil production. When AIDEA fought back with a lawsuit in 2024, Judge Gleason delivered the kind of clarity that has been sorely missing in energy policy debates – pointing out that according to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the government simply cannot cancel these leases without proper court approval, which they never bothered to get.
Legal Clarity Trumps Environmental Hysteria
In her ruling, Judge Gleason didn’t mince words about the severity of the Biden administration’s overreach. She laid bare their flagrant disregard for established legal procedures that were put in place specifically to prevent the kind of administrative power grab we’ve been witnessing. The judge’s straightforward application of the law stands in stark contrast to the emotional appeals and apocalyptic rhetoric that typically drive energy policy decisions under progressive administrations.
Predictably, environmental groups and tribal organizations threw a collective tantrum over the decision, demanding alternative solutions that would keep Alaska’s abundant resources locked underground. But Judge Gleason, to her credit, refused to be swayed by political pressure tactics, sticking instead to the letter of the law. This moment represents a rare victory for the rule of law over the rule of activist agendas that have dominated energy policy discussions for the past several years.
Alaska Celebrates as America’s Energy Future Brightens
The implications of this ruling extend far beyond courtroom technicalities. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has announced plans to open the entire 1.56 million-acre coastal plain for development, allowing AIDEA to move forward with its leases. For Alaska, this means jobs, economic growth, and a revitalization of the state’s vital energy sector that has been artificially suppressed by federal overreach. For everyday Americans, it signals potential relief at the gas pump and a step toward the energy independence that was briefly achieved before Biden took office.
“The state looks forward to working with the current federal administration on fully realizing the vast potential of ANWR to grow Alaska’s economy and help America’s energy independence,” she said by email. “It is unfortunate we have lost a significant amount of time litigating, instead of moving forward with field studies and development. We will continue to review the decision in more detail but it’s definitely a victory.” – Cori Mills, Alaska’s deputy attorney general
The timing couldn’t be more critical. As Americans continue to struggle with inflation and economic uncertainty, affordable energy stands as perhaps the most important foundation for recovery. The fact that it took a federal judge to remind the administration that they can’t simply ignore laws they find inconvenient speaks volumes about the ideological zealotry that has replaced rational policymaking in Washington. For once, the system of checks and balances has actually checked the unchecked power of administrative agencies bent on imposing a green agenda at any cost.
