President Joe Biden announced on Monday a sweeping executive action to permanently ban offshore oil and gas development in 625 million acres of U.S. waters. The move, which covers parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and sections of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea, is designed to protect sensitive coastal areas from potential ecological disasters and make it difficult for an incoming Trump administration to reverse.
“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,” Biden said in a statement. “It is not worth the risks.”
The action invokes the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, a federal law granting presidents the authority to withdraw ocean areas from future oil and gas leasing. Unlike other executive actions, this law does not explicitly allow reversals, meaning that President-elect Donald Trump would need congressional approval to overturn the ban.
Political and Industry Reactions
The announcement drew sharp criticism from the oil and gas industry. Ron Neal, chairman of the Independent Petroleum Association of America Offshore Committee, called the decision a “catastrophic” blow to the sector. “It represents a major attack on the oil and natural gas industry and severely limits our potential for future exploration,” Neal said.
The American Petroleum Institute echoed these concerns, accusing the administration of restricting domestic energy development. “American voters sent a clear message in support of domestic energy,” said API CEO Mike Sommers. “This decision cements a record of doing everything possible to restrict it.”
Trump also vowed to reverse the policy. “Look, it’s ridiculous. I’ll unban it immediately,” he said during a radio interview on The Hugh Hewitt Show. His incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, went further, calling the move “a disgraceful decision” and promising aggressive efforts to overturn it.
However, environmental groups applauded Biden’s actions, emphasizing the bipartisan support for protecting coastlines. “President Biden’s new protections add to a history of bipartisan efforts to safeguard our treasured coastal communities for future generations,” said Joseph Gordon, campaign director at Oceana.
Minimal Impact on Oil Production
Energy analysts suggest the ban will have limited economic impact. Offshore oil projects are long-term investments that often take six to eight years to come online, and current offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico are expected to maintain U.S. production levels.
Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at the Oil Price Information Service, noted, “This is not particularly consequential for U.S. exploration and production going forward. It won’t significantly affect supply, exports, or imports.”
Biden addressed these concerns, arguing that economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive. “We do not need to choose between protecting the environment and growing our economy,” he said.
Legacy of Conservation
As Biden’s presidency nears its conclusion, environmental advocates have pushed for lasting protections against offshore drilling, citing the catastrophic 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill as a reminder of the risks involved. Biden has also highlighted bipartisan support for such measures, noting that Republican and Democratic leaders have called for greater protection of ocean ecosystems.
In addition to the offshore drilling ban, the administration is expected to announce the creation of two new national monuments in California: the Chuckwalla National Monument near Joshua Tree and the Sáttítla National Monument in Northern California. These designations will bring Biden’s total to ten national monuments conserved or expanded during his presidency.
As debates over domestic energy policy continue, Biden’s actions mark a significant step in his administration’s efforts to balance environmental preservation with economic interests, leaving a legacy of expanded protections for U.S. coasts and public lands.
