White House Ban on New Oil and Gas Leases a ‘Direct Attack’ on Wyoming, Says Governor

Conservationists say linking public lands leasing to the nation’s Strategic Petrleum Preserve won’t produce more oil or gas, but will lock up lands in drilling leases—while locking out public access—for decades. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said the executive order that pauses new federal leases on oil and gas drilling is a “direct attack” on his state.

“Losing that revenue is devastating to our schools, devastating to our communities, devastating to those small businesses that really depend on the energy sector,” the Republican governor told Fox News on Monday.