Haaland Says She Can’t Answer GOP Questions on Leasing Pause (1)

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland told testy Republican senators at a hearing Tuesday that litigation is forcing her to avoid disclosing details about the Interior Department’s review of the federal oil and gas leasing programs.

President Joe Biden, in an executive order, halted oil and gas leasing on federal public lands, most of which are in the West. The pause gives the Interior Department a chance to review the effects of leasing and drilling, Haaland has said.

When asked Tuesday by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) whether Interior’s pause is in effect following a federal court injunction against it, Haaland said “I ...