Republican AGs double down on Biden administration lawsuits as president prepares to leave office

As President Biden’s time in office draws to a close, Republican attorneys general Sean D. Reyes of Utah and Ken Paxton of Texas are not letting up in their efforts to challenge the administration. They have recently filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over new energy-efficient housing standards that they believe will undermine affordable housing and exceed the authority granted by Congress.

This lawsuit is just one of many late legal challenges that have been filed against the Biden White House in its final days. In fact, this marks Paxton’s 103rd lawsuit against the Democratic administration. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Paxton expressed his concerns about preventing Biden from overreaching his authority and acting more like a king than an elected executive responsible for implementing laws.

The lawsuit, which also includes the participation of the National Association of Home Builders and several other states, argues that the administration’s energy standards are burdensome and go beyond what was intended by Congress. Reyes, in a statement, criticized the outgoing HUD and USDA offices for imposing unnecessary cost increases on Americans who are already struggling financially.

The Biden administration has defended these rules, claiming that they will save money by making homes more energy efficient. However, critics argue that the rules will increase upfront costs and limit options for buyers. The legal challenge also questions whether the administration had the legal authority to enforce these rules, as they rely on private organizations to set standards that exceed the original intent of the law.

Biden’s renewable energy agenda has been a point of contention for energy critics, with his recent executive action banning new drilling and oil and gas development on over 625 million acres of U.S. coastal and offshore waters. This decision has been met with criticism from Trump’s press secretary, who called it a “disgraceful decision.”

Republican attorneys general have been vigilant in challenging Biden’s policies over the past four years. In November, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, along with over 20 other AGs, called for an end to investigations against President-elect Trump to avoid a “constitutional crisis.” Paxton also filed a lawsuit in November against the Biden-Harris Department of Justice to prevent the destruction of records related to investigations into Trump.

Despite the legal challenges, the Biden administration remains committed to its agenda. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Jamie Joseph, a writer covering politics, leads Fox News Digital’s coverage of the Senate.