Federal Court Dismisses Climate Lawsuit Challenging Trump Energy Orders, Protecting Montana’s Mining Revival

MISSOULA — A federal judge dismissed a youth climate lawsuit Tuesday that sought to force the Trump administration to abandon energy policies that have revitalized Montana’s coal mining and critical minerals industries, delivering a victory for Attorney General Austin Knudsen and a 20-state coalition that intervened in the case.

U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear Lighthiser v. Trump, which challenged three executive orders aimed at “unleashing American energy” and reviving the coal industry. The dismissal protects Trump administration policies that have already generated concrete results for Montana’s traditional energy economy.

“We’re pleased the rule of law prevailed today and that the judge agreed with our conclusion that he did not have jurisdiction over this case,” Knudsen said in a statement. “Ultimately, the court rejected the plaintiffs’ request to force the Trump Administration to revert to Biden’s nonsensical and unpopular policies.”

Montana Energy Revival at Stake

The lawsuit targeted executive orders that have directly benefited Montana’s energy sector, including the extension of coal production at the Spring Creek Mine and broader initiatives to revive the state’s mining industry. The policies under challenge have already shown measurable impact across Montana.

Just last week, the Senate passed legislation to permanently reverse the Biden administration’s coal leasing ban in Montana’s Powder River Basin, sending the bill to Trump’s desk. The federal government has also approved a 16-year copper and silver exploration project near Libby after congressional pressure.

Montana’s critical minerals sector has seen particular growth, with a Thompson Falls antimony expansion creating 25 jobs while helping break Chinese mineral dependence. A federal coal initiative could also unlock valuable minerals from the Berkeley Pit Superfund site in Butte.

Jurisdictional Victory Over Climate Activism

Knudsen strategically focused the state intervention on jurisdictional issues rather than climate science, arguing that federal courts lack authority to force executive policy reversals. The approach proved successful as Judge Christensen ruled on separation of powers grounds rather than environmental merits.

“Our suspicions were confirmed — this was just another show trial contrived by climate activists who wasted the taxpayer’s money,” Knudsen said.

The 22 youth plaintiffs had sought to halt implementation of Trump’s “Unleashing American Energy,” “Declaring a National Energy Emergency,” and coal industry revival orders. They argued the policies would increase fossil fuel emissions by 205 million metric tons annually by 2027.

Court Finds Case Beyond Judicial Authority

Judge Christensen acknowledged the plaintiffs established injury from climate change and that the executive orders would increase emissions, but ruled the requested relief exceeded Article III judicial power.

The court found that granting the injunction would require monitoring “untold number of federal agency actions” across 12 federal agencies to determine which stemmed from the challenged orders versus other policies. This would effectively mean “hundreds of lawsuits being brought in a single case,” the court ruled.

Following the Supreme Court’s Juliana v. United States precedent, Christensen emphasized that climate policy belongs to the “political branches or electorate,” not federal judges, regardless of the urgency of environmental concerns.

“Not every problem posing a threat—even a clear and present danger—to the American Experiment can be solved by federal judges,” the court noted, dismissing the case with prejudice.

Protecting Montana’s Economic Recovery

The dismissal preserves Trump administration policies that have begun reversing years of regulatory restrictions on Montana’s energy sector. A federal trade investigation also offers hope for 700 laid-off Montana miners after Russian palladium dumping concerns.

Montana’s electricity demand has doubled in just two years, with federal and state leaders gathering Thursday in Bozeman to address the unprecedented surge.

The case marked another successful challenge by Knudsen to climate-related federal policies. In August, he led a 23-state coalition challenging EPA funding for climate training programs.

The dismissal ensures continued implementation of energy policies designed to restore Montana’s position as a leading producer of coal, critical minerals, and energy resources that once formed the backbone of the state’s economy.