Republicans in Congress have voted to overturn a Biden administration rule that blocked new federal coal leases in the Powder River Basin of eastern Montana, marking a significant shift in national energy policy and a victory for coal-producing states.
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to reverse the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 2024 amendment to the Miles City field office resource management plan. The amendment, finalized last year, prohibited new coal leases on roughly 1.7 million acres of federal land with coal development potential — leaving only the Rosebud and Spring Creek mines active.
At the time, BLM officials cited climate change concerns and projections that coal demand would continue to decline. Montana leaders, however, argued the decision jeopardized jobs, local tax revenues, and community stability across the state’s energy-producing regions. The state of Montana filed a lawsuit shortly after the rule was announced.
The Senate’s resolution passed with support from Sen. Steve Daines and Sen. Tim Sheehy, both Republicans. The House approved the measure last month, backed by Reps. Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing. The resolution now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval.
Under the CRA, Congress can invalidate recently issued federal agency rules with a simple majority vote in both chambers, bypassing the Senate’s usual 60-vote filibuster threshold. Once a rule is repealed under the act, agencies are barred from issuing a “substantially similar” regulation in the future.
Daines praised the Senate’s action as a win for Montana workers and communities.
The Trump administration, which has prioritized expanding domestic energy production, had already signaled plans to undo the BLM’s leasing restrictions. The CRA resolution ensures that future administrations cannot easily reinstate them.
Environmental groups criticized the move, saying Congress short-circuited a public process designed to balance environmental protection with energy development. They warn that reopening federal coal leasing could exacerbate climate impacts and undermine national emissions goals.
The Powder River Basin, which spans Montana and Wyoming, remains the nation’s top coal-producing region, though output has fallen sharply in recent years amid growing competition from natural gas and renewable energy sources.
By: BSH staff