Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) trashed the Biden administration's decision to pull oil and gas leases from Alaska on Wednesday, claiming the move was the latest example of the administration "caving to the radical Left."
The Department of the Interior said on Wednesday it would prohibit oil and gas drilling on more than 10.6 million acres in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve, ensuring "maximum protection" for more than 40% of the reserve, which is located in Alaska's North Slope and is the largest undisturbed public land in the United States.
"I can't explain to the American people why we would willingly become more dependent on foreign oil imports, eliminate good paying American jobs and drive up the cost of our electric bills and gas prices across the country," Manchin said. "This is yet another example of this administration caving to the radical Left with no regard for clear direction from Congress or American energy security."
Manchin called the move "embarrassing" and an attempt to circumvent Congress because the administration allegedly knows it does not have the support to get it approved properly. The senator added that the move allows Iran and Venezuela to produce more oil with fewer environmental regulations.
