Q Can I just ask one more on oil and gas? So, we just saw President Biden take action now in terms of the — protecting oil and gas development on Native lands and Tribal lands. But later this week, the U.S. government will open up for auction many, many acres — an area larger than several states, actually — to oil and gas leasing because of this legal situation.
So there are critics who say that you should have done more to avert this action. And I wonder if you can just say, you know, what action could potentially be done. Is there — are there any last-minute steps that could be taken to prevent those auctions from going forward?
MS. PSAKI: Well, you know, the President did — as you know, Andrea, but just to get others up to speed — issue an executive order pausing oil and gas leasing on public lands and in offshore waters to facilitate the identification and implementation of long-needed permitting and leasing reforms.
Shortly thereafter, the Interior Department cancelled the pending offshore oil and gas lease in the Gulf of Mexico known as Lease Sale 257.
So, what you’re referring to, I believe, is the fact that, in June, a federal district court in Louisiana stopped the President’s leasing pause and ruled that the Interior Department is legally required to go through with the sale of the Lease Sale 257, which is what you’re refer- — what Andrea is referring to in terms of putting up a bunch of lease sales — oil and gas lease sales.
We believe the decision is wrong, and the Justice Department is appealing it. So it’s in the courts; it’s in a legal process. We’re required to comply with the injunction. It’s a legal case and legal process, but it’s important for advocates and other people out there who are following this to understand that it’s not aligned with our view, the President’s policies, or the executive order that he signed.
Go ahead.
Q So there’s no more la- — so, you can’t take any last-minute action to prevent that from going forward?
MS. PSAKI: I would point you to the Justice Department. They, of course, are appealing this, and I would point you to them for any legal action or what their options are.
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