The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has given a major legal win to the Department of the Interior.
Today, the court upheld the agency’s 2024–2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, a plan that determines where and how often offshore oil and gas lease sales will take place over the next five years.
A Policy Shaped by Presidential Action
This program traces its roots back to one of President Donald J. Trump’s early initiatives.
He signed the Unleashing American Energy executive order, which encourages oil and gas exploration and production on federal lands and waters, including the Outer Continental Shelf.
The court’s decision effectively reinforces this policy direction.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division emphasized the importance of the ruling.
“The court today upheld Interior’s critically important oil and gas leasing program on the Outer Continental Shelf,” he said.
“The program plays a key part in the development of our nation’s abundant energy resources in the service of economic and national security.”
Environmental Groups Challenge the Program
A coalition of environmental organizations had opposed the plan.
They claimed Interior did not adequately consider the impact of offshore drilling on vulnerable communities, neglected to model the effects on endangered Rice’s whales, and failed to assess potential conflicts between drilling and other maritime uses.
The court, however, rejected these arguments. It concluded that Interior’s rationale was supported by data and analysis, and that the agency reasonably postponed consideration of specific conflicts to later stages of the leasing process.
Preparing for the Next Phase
While the case was still underway, Interior announced on April 18 that it would begin revising the Outer Continental Shelf Program.
This signals that, even with the legal backing, the agency is looking ahead to refine its approach and address evolving considerations.
Legal Team Behind the Victory
Attorneys from the Justice Department’s ENRD Appellate Section represented the government in court, successfully defending the program against the environmental challenges.
What Comes Next?
With the court’s decision now in place, the Department of the Interior can continue with its leasing program while preparing the revised plan.
Environmental groups may explore further legal options, but for now, the ruling clears a significant hurdle for federal offshore oil and gas development.
