Texas land commissioner slams Biden's 'punitive' pause of natural gas exports amid border row

Amid an ongoing dispute between Texas and the federal government over the state's efforts to secure the border, Texas Land Commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham has taken aim at the Biden administration's pause on liquified natural gas (LNG) exports, contending the government aims to punish Austin.

The administration last week announced it would pause the approval of LNG exports, attributing the measure to "historic hurricanes and floods wiping out homes, businesses and houses of worship." Buckingham, however, express skepticism of the official narrative on Monday.

"It's absolutely punitive. And the timing couldn't be any more proof of that," she said on the "Just the News, No Noise" television show. "But the bottom line is... liquefied natural gas is a very clean energy, cleaner than most other energy sources that our foreign countries have access to. So, the bogus claim about the massive climate change emergency at this moment in time--"

She then insisted that Washington's move had even enraged local Democrats, whom it adversely affected.

"I talked to them everyday along the border, and they are completely upset with the Biden administration," she went on. "They feel like they are being hurt by his policies, and he has no regard for them. And this is just another example of that. In fact, we're actually starting to see elected Democrats in the state condemn these actions and what Biden's trying to do with these licenses for liquefied natural gas, and you know what, they're gonna continue to keep trying to hurt Texas, and we're gonna continue to keep winning."

Texas and Biden administration are currently embroiled in a spat over the state's deployment of razor wire along the southern border. The Supreme Court last week lifted an injunction that restricted border agents from cutting through the wire except in the event of medical emergency. The court did not rule on the merits and the case remains before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Notably, the decision did not bar the state from continuing to deploy more razor wire and state officials have indicated that they intend to do so.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.