Biden to Ban Offshore Oil, Gas Drilling in Vast Areas Ahead of Trump Term.
U.S. President Joe Biden is set to prohibit new offshore oil and gas exploration along the majority of the U.S. coastlines, a decision that may pose challenges for President-elect Donald Trump, who has expressed intentions to enhance domestic energy production. On Monday, the White House announced that Biden will exercise his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, a statute that has been in place for 70 years, to safeguard all federal waters off the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and certain areas of the northern Bering Sea in Alaska.
This ban will encompass approximately 625 million acres (253 million hectares) of ocean. Biden indicated that this action aligns with his climate change initiatives and his objective to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by the year 2030. He referenced the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, asserting that the limited drilling potential in the affected areas does not warrant the public health and economic risks associated with future leasing.
"My decision reflects the long-held views of coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers: that drilling in these regions could inflict irreversible harm on cherished locations and is unnecessary for fulfilling our nation's energy requirements," Biden stated. "The risks are not justified."
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This announcement arrives as Trump has committed to reversing Biden's conservation and climate policies upon assuming office later this month. During his presidency, Biden restricted new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters, which drew criticism from states and companies reliant on drilling. However, the Lands Act, which empowers presidents to withdraw areas from mineral leasing and drilling, does not provide the legal means to rescind previous bans, as established by a 2019 court ruling.
This ruling was a response to Trump's attempts to overturn Arctic and Atlantic Ocean withdrawals enacted by former President Barack Obama at the conclusion of his term. Notably, Trump also utilized this law to prohibit the sale of offshore drilling rights in the eastern Gulf of Mexico off Florida's coast until 2032. Biden's decision will similarly protect this area indefinitely.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump's transition team, described Biden's decision as "disgraceful" on X, while reaffirming Trump's commitment to enhance U.S. drilling, although she did not provide specific details. A trade association representing the oil and gas sector stated that this decision would jeopardize American energy security and urged Congress to overturn it.
Biden's decision to ban offshore oil and gas drilling in extensive areas marks a bold step toward his climate and conservation goals. While it aligns with environmental priorities, the move faces challenges from Trump, who aims to reverse such policies, highlighting the ongoing tension between energy production and environmental protection.
