Congress locks in oil drilling for a decade, strips president's climate authority
S. 460 — Supporting Made in America Energy Act · Filed by Steve Daines (R-MT) · 11 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 6, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill mandates the federal government conduct a minimum of 4 onshore oil and gas lease sales per year in nine specified states (Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Nevada, and any other state with available land), and at least 2 annual offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico starting in 2026, plus 6 lease sales in Alaska's Cook Inlet over 10 years. It locks in specific lease terms, requires replacement sales if any are canceled, and strips the President of authority to pause or delay federal energy leasing without congressional approval.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to mandate and accelerate oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters by removing executive discretion and imposing minimum annual lease sale quotas. Despite the 'Made in America Energy' framing, it is functionally a subsidy and protection mechanism for the fossil fuel industry.
What the text implies
- The bill strips the President of authority to pause leasing for environmental or climate reasons, effectively locking in fossil fuel extraction regardless of future climate science or public demand for renewable energy.
- Mandatory replacement sales if any lease is canceled or delayed means the government must conduct additional sales to meet quotas, potentially forcing sales of marginal or environmentally sensitive parcels.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
oil and gas exploration and production companies; fossil fuel majors; energy services contractors