The American Petroleum Institute (API) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined Republican leaders in calling on the Biden administration to lift its temporary pause on federal oil and natural gas leasing after a Louisiana district court ordered the moratorium be lifted.

Fourteen states in March challenged President Biden’s executive order (EO), which in January, called for the Department of Interior to pause new federal permits to develop oil and gas onshore as well as offshore. Interior in April then halted new permitting through at least June to continue the review, which is expected to be issued this summer.

U.S. District Judge Terry A. Doughty of the Western District of Louisiana found for the plaintiffs in issuing a preliminary injunction late Tuesday. He ordered the...