President Joe Biden has banned new offshore oil and gas drilling across major portions of US coastal waters, preceding Donald Trump’s upcoming presidency.
The policy encompasses the Atlantic coastline, eastern Gulf of Mexico, Pacific waters off California, Oregon, and Washington, and portions of Alaska’s Bering Sea. This action joins several recent climate-related policies enacted by the Biden administration.
Despite current record extraction levels, Trump’s campaign promoted increased domestic fossil fuel production to reduce gas prices.
“Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary for our nation’s energy needs,” Biden stated, citing concerns from coastal communities and businesses.
The ban, implemented under the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, covers 625 million acres. A 2019 court ruling established that presidents cannot reverse previous drilling bans under this law, potentially complicating Trump’s ability to overturn it.
Trump previously used this same law to protect Florida’s waters until 2032, which is viewed by many as a strategic electoral move. Biden’s new protection extends this area indefinitely.
Trump’s incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it “a disgraceful decision” aimed at “political revenge.” Environmental groups praised the action, with Oceana’s Joseph Gordon describing it as “an epic ocean victory.”
The American Petroleum Institute opposed the decision, with President Mike Sommers urging policymakers to “restore a pro-American energy approach to federal leasing.”
A similar situation occurred in 2017 when Trump attempted to reverse Obama’s ocean protections, but courts ruled presidents cannot undo previous administrations’ decisions under this act.
Trump’s inauguration is set for January 20, and legal challenges are expected. The Supreme Court, with its Republican majority, might ultimately decide the policy’s fate.
Environmental advocates had pressed for this ban, citing climate change concerns. The International Energy Agency suggests oil and gas demand must decrease 5% annually to maintain the 1.5C global temperature rise limit considered critical for minimizing climate impacts.”
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