Staff Reports
President Biden has been busy in the final days of his term, making moves that would make even a traffic cop at a roadblock blush. With just two weeks left in office, he has announced a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters. This maneuver seems aimed at halting any plans by the incoming Trump administration to ramp up offshore drilling activities. It’s like trying to fill the holes in a sinking ship while it’s still sailing.
Using authority from the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Biden is putting the kibosh on new oil leases along the East and West coasts, parts of the Gulf of Mexico, and even some areas in Alaska. He claims this decision is to protect community interests and preserve the beauty of coastal areas, but it raises eyebrows when looking at the already energy-hungry America. Biden’s conclusion appears to be that not only can we survive without energy independence, but the heavy hand of regulation will leave these pristine beaches untouched—because he’s clearly never sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic during vacation season.
Biden, in 11th hour action, bans new offshore oil and gas drilling in most federal waters https://t.co/Di2Ykzryn3 pic.twitter.com/O1hMBgbTAt
— New York Post (@nypost) January 6, 2025
The ban does not extend to large sections of the Gulf of Mexico, which currently serve as America’s oil gushing machine, so it’s not a complete shutdown of the energy spigot. Nevertheless, it does lock down vital coastlines in states like California and Florida. It’s a comforting thought for beachgoers who might prefer ocean views over oil rigs—until they realize that high gas prices mean they might need to rethink all those road trips in the first place.
Trump, who has a love-hate relationship with offshore drilling, may find Biden’s last-minute actions complicated to reverse. His history includes a 2020 commitment that prohibited drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, while simultaneously wrestling with a memory of wanting to expand drilling like it was an all-you-can-eat buffet. It appears Biden’s actions are designed to lay a regulatory minefield that could keep Trump busy in his new administration unless he can convince Congress to act like it doesn’t exist.
Environmental advocates have hailed Biden’s decision with enthusiasm usually reserved for a World Series win. The campaign director for the group Oceana described the ban as an “epic ocean victory.” This cheerleading does not consider that a thriving energy sector can coexist with environmental protections—a concept that seems lost in the fog of the climate crisis narrative. Biden may laud his actions as necessary for future generations and the planet, but one has to question whether the joyful trove of dollars from energy production has any place in his vision for America’s future.
A spokeswoman for Trump took to the airwaves to deride Biden’s decision, expressing incredulity that the president seems committed to ensuring that Americans feel the pinch at the pump. In a world where “drill, baby, drill” is not just a slogan but a rallying cry for energy independence, Biden’s crusade against fossil fuel has all the hallmarks of political theater, complete with the obligatory disdain for the American public’s energy needs. In the coming years, one could expect a push for energy dominance that contrasts sharply with the current administration’s environmental zeal, where gas prices will likely determine who really has the upper hand.
