Biden moves to ban offshore drilling across 625 million acres before Trump returns to office

Biden’s offshore drilling ban spans millions of coastal acres, but Trump’s upcoming administration signals a potential rollback.

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Image Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Quick summary:

• President Joe Biden has banned offshore oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters, using the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prevent future leasing.

• The ban protects coastlines in the Atlantic, Pacific, eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea, with no expiration date, making it harder for future administrations to reverse.

Trump’s incoming administration plans to “unban” drilling as part of its pro-fossil fuel Project 2025 agenda, though legal challenges are likely.

• Biden cited the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as a key reason for the ban, noting that offshore drilling risks irreversible damage to communities and ecosystems.

• Environmental groups, including Oceana, called the ban an “epic ocean victory”, protecting marine life and preventing oil spills.

• Industry groups, like the National Ocean Industries Association, criticized the ban, claiming it shifts energy production abroad and hurts the economy.

• Biden’s decision is one of his final climate actions before leaving office, but legal protections make it more difficult for Trump to undo without Congressional action.

Here’s the comprehensive article following the outline and the ‘Progressive News Article Style Guide.’ All quotes are real and unchanged from the source material.

With just days remaining before his term ends, President Joe Biden has announced a sweeping move to ban offshore oil and gas drilling across more than 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters. The action, made under the authority of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, protects vast stretches of the Atlantic, Pacific, eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s northern Bering Sea from future oil and gas exploration.

Biden described the decision as essential to safeguarding coastal communities from the environmental, public health, and economic risks posed by offshore drilling.

“Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs,” Biden said in a statement.

The president pointed to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster—the largest oil spill in U.S. history—as a stark warning of the dangers of offshore drilling. “As the climate crisis continues to threaten communities across the country and we are transitioning to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren,” Biden added.

The ban will shield the coasts of Washington, Oregon, California, and part of Alaska’s northern Bering Sea from new oil and gas leases. It also covers large portions of the eastern Gulf of Mexico near Florida and other southeastern states, preventing potential offshore drilling in those waters.

The administration’s use of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act gives the ban significant staying power. The withdrawals have no expiration date and cannot be undone without an act of Congress. According to legal experts, this makes Biden’s ban more challenging for future administrations to reverse.

In a fact sheet, the White House emphasized that the action prohibits “all future oil and natural gas leasing in the areas withdrawn” and ensures long-term protection for coastal ecosystems.

The announcement has sparked backlash from the fossil fuel industry and Republican lawmakers, who argue that the ban jeopardizes national energy security and economic growth.

“Blanket bans only serve to shift energy production and economic opportunities abroad, benefiting countries like Russia at our expense,” said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association. Milito added that offshore drilling provides crucial flexibility for the U.S. to adapt to unexpected global changes, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to overturn Biden’s ban. In a statement, Trump declared that his administration would “unban” offshore drilling as soon as he takes office.

A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team described Biden’s action as “disgraceful,” adding, “Rest assured, Joe Biden will fail, and we will drill, baby, drill.”

While Trump has promised to undo the ban, legal experts say the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act complicates his plan. In 2019, a federal judge ruled that withdrawals made under the act cannot be undone without congressional approval.

“Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the new chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, suggested that he would seek to overturn the decision using the Congressional Review Act, which allows lawmakers to nullify an executive action within 60 days of enactment with a simple majority vote,” reported The Washington Post.

Despite these challenges, Trump’s proposed Cabinet—which includes several allies of the oil and gas industry—is expected to push for expanded fossil fuel production. The far-right Project 2025 agenda, crafted by members of Trump’s first administration, calls for a major increase in offshore drilling and the rollback of climate protections.

Environmental organizations and coastal communities celebrated Biden’s move as a significant victory for ocean conservation and climate action.

“This is an epic ocean victory!” said Joseph Gordon, campaign director at Oceana, a nonprofit focused on protecting marine ecosystems. “Thank you, President Biden, for listening to the voices from coastal communities and contributing to the bipartisan tradition of protecting our coasts.”

Gordon emphasized the economic importance of preserving coastal areas, noting that clean coastlines support billions of dollars in tourism, fisheries, and other industries. “Our treasured coastal communities are now safeguarded for future generations,” he added.

Lena Moffitt, executive director of Evergreen Action, praised the decision as a necessary step to address the climate crisis. “Americans on both sides of the aisle support protecting our oceans from big oil giveaways,” Moffitt said. “President Biden’s bold action today underscores that we cannot afford the continued expansion of oil and gas production if we are to meet our climate targets and avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis.”

Biden’s offshore drilling ban is one of several last-minute climate policy decisions made by his administration in the final days before Trump takes office. The outgoing president has faced criticism from environmentalists for approving fossil fuel projects during his term, but advocates see this move as a crucial part of his climate legacy.

However, the future of Biden’s ban remains uncertain. The oil and gas industry, backed by powerful Republican lawmakers, has vowed to fight the restrictions. Trump’s return to the White House is expected to bring a renewed push for fossil fuel expansion, potentially reversing much of Biden’s climate agenda.

“Our coastlines are home to millions of Americans and support billions of dollars of economic activity that depend on a clean coast, abundant wildlife, and thriving fisheries,” Gordon said. “We must safeguard them for future generations.”

To take action and pass a resolution in your town to stop offshore drilling, visit the Center for Biological Diversity.

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