Staff Reports
In a move that could only be described as a backhanded goodbye, President Joe Biden has decided to slap a permanent ban on offshore oil and gas development in American waters just as he packs up his belongings to leave the White House. For the incoming President-elect, Donald J. Trump, this creates a delightful problem: cleaning up Biden’s environmental mess. Talk about a parting gift that keeps on giving.
Using the outdated 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act as his trusty tool, Biden is set to create new restrictions on drilling rights that will be difficult to undo. This law is supposed to allow for the regulation of offshore energy resources, but Biden’s implementation makes sure that he gets in the last word before Trump takes the reins. Critics are calling this a last-minute act of sabotage aimed directly at Trump’s promise to crank up American energy production. This is Biden’s version of throwing sand in the gears just as the new administration rolls in.
Biden didn’t just sign the order, he instead invoked the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, a law that gives presidents broad authority to withdraw federal waters from future oil and gas leasing and development. pic.twitter.com/44IaMYJKLR
— Sibylle (@AHaschi) January 6, 2025
Over the past two years, Biden has ironically pretended to listen to the loud environmental lobby that screams about the dangers of oil drilling to coastal communities and marine ecosystems. What’s truly ironic is that while the demand for oil continues to soar, this administration has been busy tying the hands of American energy producers more than any other in recent memory. With regulations raining down like confetti, the energy industry finds itself stumbling under the weight of Biden’s executive actions.
If one were to look at the recent history of offshore drilling under Biden, it reads like a horror story for energy independence. Forget about the bountiful natural resources off the Pacific coast of California and the eastern Gulf of Mexico waters – they’ve practically been designated as no-fly zones for energy production under Biden’s watch. Just three offshore lease sales are scheduled over the next five years, which is an all-time low. Meanwhile, the Gulf of Mexico alone contributes about 14% of the nation’s domestic oil production. Wouldn’t it be nice to actually tap into that?
While every other administration has found ways to modify or revoke offshore protections, the courts have been less than helpful for Trump in the past, having blocked his attempts to roll back Obama-era restrictions on oil leasing. Still, a determined Trump is expected to plow forward with plans to reverse Biden’s foolish ban, although it may be a long road laden with bureaucratic hurdles. Not one to back down from a challenge, Trump’s strategy will likely involve an administrative process that, while time-consuming, would hopefully restore American energy supremacy and revenue streams that have been stifled.
The only question left is whether Biden’s legacy will see a resurgence of American oil production or if his restrictions will live longer than a bad cold. As the energy industry waits with bated breath, one thing is clear: the Biden administration’s antics have only intensified the urgency for a pro-energy agenda under the coming Trump administration. Buckle up, America – it’s going to be wild ride ahead in the world of domestic energy!
