Biden Bans New Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling in Most U.S. Coastal Waters.

President Joe Biden is taking action to prohibit new offshore oil and gas exploration in most U.S. coastal waters two weeks before Donald Trump is set to assume office- with his promise to expand offshore drilling.

In a final effort, Biden announced he is exercising his authority under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to safeguard offshore regions along the East and West Coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing.

Biden said in a statement:

My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs,

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.

However, the outgoing president’s directives will not impact the vast areas of the Gulf of Mexico, where the majority of U.S. offshore drilling takes place. Instead, these measures will safeguard coastlines in California, Florida, and other states from future drilling activities. In total, more than 625 million acres of federal waters will be protected.

Reversing these orders could prove challenging for Trump, as doing so will likely require an act of Congress.

Trump himself has a complicated track record regarding offshore drilling. In 2020, he signed a memorandum directing the Interior Secretary to ban drilling in the waters off both Florida coasts, as well as the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, until 2032. This decision came after Trump initially sought to significantly expand offshore drilling but later withdrew his plans due to strong opposition in Florida and other coastal states.

This time, Trump has pledged to achieve what he calls American “energy dominance” worldwide. He aims to increase U.S. oil and gas drilling and shift away from Biden’s emphasis on climate change.