Judge Rules Against Sale of Gulf of Mexico Oil Drilling Rights

A federal district judge on Thursday ruled against a Biden administration sale of oil and gas drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico, faulting the government with failing to sufficiently analyze its possible effects on the climate and endangered whales.

However, US District Judge Amit P. Mehta in Washington left open the question of what to do about the two-year-old sale, instead directing additional arguments on the best remedy. Options could include invalidating leases sold in the auction or ordering those contracts be revised to include more limitations.

The sale, which Congress mandated as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, ...