In a decisive move, President Joe Biden has established a broad ban on newly authorized offshore oil and gas drilling along most of the U.S. coastline just weeks before former President Donald Trump is set to take office. The extensive ban encompasses the entirety of the Atlantic coast, along with portions of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific coastline of California, Oregon, and Washington, extending to an area in the Bering Sea off Alaska.
Biden Enacts Sweeping Offshore Drilling Ban Just Before Trump's Return
Biden Enacts Sweeping Offshore Drilling Ban Just Before Trump's Return
US President Joe Biden has implemented a significant ban on offshore oil and gas drilling along a vast section of the U.S. coastline, ahead of Donald Trump's impending inauguration.
This announcement reflects a series of final climate policy measures by Biden's administration amidst rising tensions with the incoming Trump presidency, who has voiced strong plans to immediately overturn the ban upon taking office. However, reversing such a policy could prove complex under current U.S. law, particularly as the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953 governs these decisions. While the law permits the President to designate protected areas, it does not provide a straightforward mechanism to revoke existing protections set by former administrations—in this case, those implemented by Biden.
In response to Biden’s declaration, Trump considered the ban "ridiculous," maintaining that he could unilaterally repeal it. Setting the stage for a contentious political showdown, he reiterated his campaign promises to maximize domestic fossil fuel extraction to address high gasoline prices, despite previous records of extraction.
Biden defended the ban by stressing the potential hazards offshore drilling poses to coastal ecosystems, stating, "Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation's energy needs. It is not worth the risks." Environmental groups have lauded the move, claiming it is a significant victory for ocean conservation. Conversely, industry representatives warn that the ban could undermine U.S. energy security and called for Congress to overturn the decision.
As Trump prepares to assume office once again, discussions surrounding this controversial issue will intensify, laying the groundwork for future legal battles over energy policy in the United States.
In response to Biden’s declaration, Trump considered the ban "ridiculous," maintaining that he could unilaterally repeal it. Setting the stage for a contentious political showdown, he reiterated his campaign promises to maximize domestic fossil fuel extraction to address high gasoline prices, despite previous records of extraction.
Biden defended the ban by stressing the potential hazards offshore drilling poses to coastal ecosystems, stating, "Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation's energy needs. It is not worth the risks." Environmental groups have lauded the move, claiming it is a significant victory for ocean conservation. Conversely, industry representatives warn that the ban could undermine U.S. energy security and called for Congress to overturn the decision.
As Trump prepares to assume office once again, discussions surrounding this controversial issue will intensify, laying the groundwork for future legal battles over energy policy in the United States.
