Staff Reports
Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, wasted no time in criticizing the Biden administration’s decision on offshore oil and gas lease sales. He called it “the bare minimum” and accused the administration of putting their “radical political agenda over American energy security.” Manchin emphasized that this decision would also limit renewable energy leases, as the two are tied together. He pointed out that without the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), there would have been no new lease sales at all. While he acknowledged that three lease sales were better than none, he criticized the decision to limit energy production while other countries are using energy as a weapon. He labeled it a “failure of leadership” and promised to hold the administration accountable.
Manchin slams Biden administration for granting 'bare minimum' offshore drilling lease sales https://t.co/250fdMLnUi
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 30, 2023
As the most vocal critic of President Biden within the Democratic Senate majority, Manchin has been a thorn in the side of the administration. He has frequently criticized their climate policy and the rollout of the IRA. Despite being seen as a vulnerable incumbent for the 2024 Senate elections, Manchin has not announced if he will run for reelection. He has also left the door open to a potential third-party presidential run in 2024, with a decision expected by the end of this year.
It’s no surprise that Sen. Manchin, a well-known conservative Democrat, is pushing back against the Biden administration’s energy policies. While it’s commendable that the IRA saved some lease sales, it’s clear that Manchin believes more could have been done to prioritize American energy security. This kind of criticism is necessary to keep the administration accountable and ensure that our energy needs are not sacrificed for political agendas.
