The reductions have caused discomfort for states that have historically received large payments from Interior’s leases. Chief among them is Wyoming. The state watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense calculated that the oil and gas royalty reductions will cost the Cowboy State $11 million annually and the coal royalty reduction will cost $50 million a year. That’s sparked concern in the legislature, including among the influential and very conservative Wyoming Freedom Caucus, which controls the legislature’s House.

Taxpayers for Common Sense said, “Competitive, market-rate royalty rates do not affect industry interest or production decisions — lowering rates only shortchanges taxpayers by reducing future royalty revenue.”