US Appeals Court Orders Biden Admin to Conduct Gulf Oil, Gas Auction Within 37 Days

The Biden administration sought to restrict the offshore oil and gas lease sales.

Aerial view of the Centenario exploration oil rig, operated by Mexican company "Grupo R" and working for Mexico's state-owned oil company PEMEX, in the Gulf of Mexico on Aug. 30, 2013. Omar Torres/AFP via Getty Images

A federal appeals court in New Orleans gave the Biden administration 37 days to move forward with the sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, dismissing challenges from environmental groups in a ruling on Tuesday.

The decision comes after a series of legal battles, primarily citing concerns over endangered whale species.