• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Digital News Updates
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business

Attorney General Knudsen Sues Biden Administration Over Coal Leasing Halt

December 21, 2024

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its plan to halt federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin, a region responsible for 85% of coal production on federal lands. Knudsen argues the decision will devastate Montana’s coal industry and harm the state’s economy.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, seeks to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) revised federal land-use plans, which Knudsen claims unlawfully disregard congressional directives. The suit cites the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA), which mandate federal collaboration with states to manage public lands.

“The Biden administration’s plan will effectively kill our nation’s coal industry by halting new federal coal leasing in the Powder River Basin,” said Knudsen. “In Montana, we need coal – it fuels our economy and heats our homes in the winter in subzero temperatures. Rather than do what is best for Montanans and constituents across the country, Biden is catering to radical environmentalists.”

This marks the 59th lawsuit filed by Knudsen against the Biden administration, as he continues to challenge federal policies he sees as overreaching and detrimental to Montana’s interests.

The Powder River Basin spans parts of Montana and Wyoming and is a critical hub for coal production, supplying energy across the United States. Montana’s coal industry contributes significantly to local economies, providing jobs and supporting infrastructure in rural communities.

Knudsen’s lawsuit calls on the court to vacate the BLM’s federal land-use plans, restoring previous coal leasing policies and ensuring compliance with established laws requiring federal-state collaboration.

The Biden administration’s move to halt federal coal leasing is part of broader efforts to transition the nation away from fossil fuels and combat climate change. However, critics argue such measures disproportionately impact states like Montana, where coal remains a cornerstone of the economy and a vital energy source.

The legal battle is expected to draw national attention as it highlights the ongoing tension between federal environmental policies and state-level economic priorities.

Click here to read the lawsuit.

By: DNU staff

Filed Under: Featured, Home Featured, Politics

Related Articles:

  • President Trump Signs Senator Sheehy’s Aerial Firefighting Bill Into Law
  • Gianforte Appoints Marta Bertoglio as Department of Commerce Director
  • Montana Historical Society Launches Final Fundraising Push for Montana Heritage Center
  • Here’s how American taxpayers will be impacted if the ‘big, beautiful bill’ fails
  • Montana Attorney General Launches Investigation into Lee Enterprises Following Cyberattack
  • Sheehy Introduces Legislation to Compensate Service Members Discharged Over COVID Vaccine Mandate

Primary Sidebar

Digital News Updates Logo

Recent News Posts

  • North Dakota to Celebrate Grand Opening of Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
  • Montana Attorney General Launches Investigation into Lee Enterprises Following Cyberattack
  • VA slams Democrat governor for falsely claiming vets could be denied care
  • Montana State names 2025 presidential scholars

Recent Politics Posts

  • Gianforte Praises Supreme Court Ruling
  • Zinke Urges Interior Secretary to Act on Projected Low Flathead Lake Levels
  • Senator Daines Leads Bipartisan Push to Celebrate “Great Outdoors Month”
  • Sheehy Introduces Legislation to Compensate Service Members Discharged Over COVID Vaccine Mandate

Recent Business Posts

  • Bridger Aerospace Welcomes Executive Order to Reshape Wildland Firefighting
  • Gianforte Appoints Marta Bertoglio as Department of Commerce Director
  • Daktronics to Announce Q4 and Fiscal 2025 Results on June 25
  • Performance Engineering Earns National Honors

Copyright © 2025 Digital News Updates, All Rights Reserved.