406 views Only a day after taking office, the new Biden administration announced a temporary suspension of new drilling permits on federal land and foreshadowed further efforts to place a moratorium on leasing. Though not unexpected, the move is a shot across the bow for energy producers across the country, and particularly in states with prolific federal lands development like New Mexico. Acting Secretary of the Interior Scott de la Vega issued Secretarial Order No. 3395 that temporarily suspends delegations of authority regarding leasing and permitting on federal lands, with a significantly reduced staff able to approve such items. This order does not halt leasing or existing development, and at its face is a temporary measure, but is certain to create bottlenecks that last well-beyond the 60-day limit on the order.