Democrats split with Biden and push for quick offshore leasing program approval

A group of congressional Democrats is lobbying the Biden administration to overcome delays and approve a new program for offshore oil and gas leasing as Washington’s ruling party faces pressure to reduce record fuel prices ahead of November’s midterm elections.

The lawmakers are asking the administration to publish quickly the next five-year offshore leasing plan, which is required by law and lays out the sales the government is to hold in a given year, as the current one will expire next month with no successor in place.