By WAA News
WASHINGTON DC-
Just ten days before the first major offshore oil and gas lease sale of Donald Trump’s second term, a coalition of well-funded environmental coalition led by Earthjustice and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed suit in federal court to halt the December 10 Gulf of Mexico auction covering 80 million acres. The lawsuit claims the Interior Department violated the National Environmental Policy Act by skipping required environmental reviews—an accusation the administration calls a deliberate stall tactic against the president’s “Unleashing American Energy” agenda.
Critics of the litigation argue the lawsuits are less about science and more about politics. The same groups successfully delayed or canceled dozens of energy projects during Trump’s first term and the Biden years, often using the courts to impose what supporters of expanded drilling call a de facto ban on new fossil-fuel development. With Democrats largely sidelined in Congress, these organizations have become the primary opposition force against Trump’s promise to make the United States the world’s dominant energy producer again.
A lesser-discussed factor is the financial engine behind the litigation machine. Earthjustice reported $183 million in revenue in 2024, while CBD took in over $22 million—much of it from large foundations and individual donors who support aggressive climate policies. Both groups also receive millions annually in attorney-fee awards paid by taxpayers whenever they win or settle cases against the federal government under the Equal Access to Justice Act and Endangered Species Act provisions. Industry analysts estimate these reimbursements have totaled well over $50 million for the top environmental litigants since 2010.
The December sale is seen as a bellwether. If blocked, it could delay the entire 2026–2031 offshore program that includes historic lease offerings in Alaska, California, and potentially the Atlantic. Trump officials vow to fight the lawsuits aggressively, warning that endless legal delays only benefit foreign producers while costing American jobs and energy security.
References:
- https://earthjustice.org/press/2025/earthjustice-sues-to-block-trump-administrations-first-offshore-lease-sale
- https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/lawsuit-challenges-trump-offshore-drilling-rush-2025-11-18/
- https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/regulation/how-environmental-groups-profit-from-litigation/
