President Obama has responded to concerns over rising gas prices in part by claiming to have increased domestic oil production.
"Under my Administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years," he said in a speech last month.
However, oil production on federal land, which is directly under the administration’s control, has decreased since Obama took office.
The Washington Times reports:
Countering President Obama's claim that he's doing everything he can to increase domestic oil production, a top House Republican Thursday released data from the Energy Department showing that fossil fuel production on federal lands has fallen since Mr. Obama took office.
The information compiled by the Energy Information Administration shows that total fossil fuel production on federal lands has dropped 7 percent since 2009 and 13 percent since 2003. From 2010 to 2011, total oil production on federal lands is down 14 percent and gas production dropped 11 percent.
House Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings, Washington Republican, said the new data show that President Obama's "anti-energy policies" are taking the country in the wrong direction.