AFP Foundation Files Suit for ANWR Lease Sale Cancellation Documents

Oct 31, 2023 by AFP

ANCHORAGE, AK — Today, Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFP Foundation) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) complaint after the Biden administration failed to provide documents on its unprecedented and unlawful cancellation of oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The lease sales were lawfully awarded and required by federal law in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

AFP Foundation also submitted two new FOIA requests to investigate the Biden administration choking off future oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A).

Over the past few years, the Biden administration has throttled American energy production while at the same time draining our Strategic Petroleum Reserve, begging for OPEC to delay production cuts, and twice easing sanctions on Venezuelan oil sales. 

Americans for Prosperity Foundation-Alaska State Director Bethany Marcum released the following statement: 

“Biden and Washington, DC politicians might be okay with relying on foreign adversaries for American energy but that doesn’t work for us Alaskans,” said Marcum. “Instead of waging war against American energy independence, we should focus on sustainable solutions that will help provide affordable energy for generations to come. It’s time for this administration to be held accountable.” 

Americans for Prosperity Foundation Director of Investigations Kevin Schmidt released the following statement: 

“The events unfolding in the Middle East show just how reckless the Biden administration’s war on energy has become. The cancellation of lease sales in ANWR and reinterpretation of federal law in the NPR-A are both legally dubious and harmful to our energy security.

There is a better way. Allow more production at home by conducting lease sales, removing needless regulatory barriers, and focusing on an all of the above strategy of energy abundance.”

Read the complaint and FOIA requests: 