Staff Reports
President Biden’s recent decision to impose a ban on offshore drilling serves as another chapter in his ongoing green energy saga—one that seems to be more about political maneuvering than actual benefit to the American public. With President-elect Donald Trump preparing to take the helm in just two weeks, Biden’s hasty move appears aimed at throwing a wrench into the gears of Trump’s “drill, baby, drill” mantra. If only more of Biden’s decisions seemed aimed at bolstering American energy independence rather than tying its hands.
The ban encompasses over 625 acres of U.S. ocean territory, specifically targeting the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska, and shuts the door on potential energy exploration where no drilling was previously happening. Erik Milito, head of the National Ocean Industries Association, points out that this effectively eliminates any chance of new energy discoveries outside the Gulf of Mexico. One has to wonder how many more regulations the Biden administration can churn out before they notice that Americans would prefer a stable energy supply over the latest environmental fad.
Biden’s Last-Minute Attack on Trump’s ‘Drill Baby Drill’ Agenda
Biden plans last-minute executive order to BAN offshore drilling across 625M acres of US coastal waters, just weeks before Trump takes office. Pure sabotage of Trump's energy independence plans. pic.twitter.com/e5jSfZMiot
— Based & Biased (@basedandbiased1) January 5, 2025
Trump didn’t waste any time in responding, promising to quickly “unban” drilling in those areas and dismissing Biden’s actions as absurd. However, legal experts have indicated that Trump won’t be able to simply revoke Biden’s ban with a single stroke of the pen. This means that Congress may need to rally behind legislation to reverse Biden’s restrictions—an uphill battle given the razor-thin Republican majority and longstanding opposition from some quarters regarding drilling along the coasts.
As if the challenges weren’t enough, critics have also suggested that Biden’s ban could face legal hurdles, citing an overreaching interpretation of a 1953 law meant to govern offshore drilling. Many see Biden’s tactics as an affront to the voters who overwhelmingly supported Trump and a Republican agenda based on energizing America’s traditional fuel sources. The assertion that Biden is trying to cement a failed green energy legacy while ignoring the will of the people rings loud and true from the conservative corner of the room.
Biden’s actions have been a smorgasbord of energy restrictions, starting with his infamous cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline permit. This flurry of last-minute moves won’t be easily reversed and, as Biden’s administration freezes new oil and gas permits, it continues to move America away from fossil fuel production. If Trump aims to revive the energy independence mantra, he faces a daunting task, compounded by swathes of federally protected lands that Biden designated as national monuments in a bid to shield them from development. Ironically, while Biden insists on committing huge resources to prevent energy exploration, Trump stands ready to roll back these obsessively protective measures, bolstering both energy production and job creation, if given the chance.
As Trump prepares to reclaim the White House, the outlook for energy policy looks intriguingly turbulent. His promise to revitalize fossil fuel production may clash with the climate-driven aspects of Biden’s legacy, presenting a real chance for a tug-of-war that could shape U.S. energy policy for the next decade. The challenge will be not just political, but also a profound test of public sentiment toward energy independence versus environmentalism—an arena where conservative values have the potential to rally support if delivered with a healthy dose of humor and clarity.
