Biden Permanently Bans Offshore Drilling as Trump Promises to Reverse It

President Joe Biden has made a landmark decision to prohibit offshore oil and natural gas drilling across vast swaths of U.S. coastal waters, including the East and West coasts, the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s North Bering Sea. This decisive move effectively halts future leasing in more than 625 million acres of ocean, a significant stride in U.S. environmental policy.

Biden’s action leverages Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), granting permanent protection to these regions. Unlike typical executive orders, actions under this law cannot easily be undone by subsequent administrations without congressional intervention. This presents a significant challenge for President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to overturn Biden’s policy upon taking office.

“My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage,” Biden stated. He emphasized that safeguarding coastal ecosystems is essential and does not conflict with economic growth or energy security.

The White House has underscored that Biden’s Conservation measures surpass those of any previous U.S. president, solidifying his environmental legacy. The administration argues that offshore drilling poses unacceptable risks to marine life, coastal economies, and public health, citing catastrophic events such as the BP Deepwater Horizon spill.

However, Trump has voiced strong opposition, labeling the ban as detrimental to U.S. energy independence. “I will unban it immediately,” he asserted, pledging to restore offshore drilling in his bid to lower energy prices.

While Trump’s commitment to “drill, baby, drill” remains popular among his supporters, overturning Biden’s move could prove legally and politically challenging. Any attempt to reverse the ban would likely require navigating complex legislative hurdles, reinforcing the durability of Biden’s Conservation efforts.

If protecting coastal environments and preventing offshore drilling is important to you, consider supporting environmental organizations that advocate for ocean Conservation such as Oceana . Contact your local representatives to express your stance on offshore drilling policies and urge them to uphold protections. Engaging in community initiatives or coastal clean-up efforts also contributes to safeguarding these vital ecosystems for future generations.

Video Source: NBC News/Youtube

Related Content:

• Petition: Tell President Biden to Stop Liquified Natural Gas Exports
• San Francisco Bay Area to Phase Out Natural Gas Appliances
• Maine Sues Major Oil Companies Over Climate Change
• Biden Sets New Climate Goals as Trump Prepares to Reverse Course

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Stand against fast fashion Pollution by supporting circular brands like Tiny Rescue, which create cause-based collections using recycled, zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade, ensuring it never ends up in a landfill.
• Shop Sustainably for Your Home: Visit SustaiNOBLE.org, an eco-friendly and ethically sourced home decor store that will empower your home with luxurious fair-trade, and sustainable products made by global artisans.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!