Biden Enacts Permanent Ban on Offshore Drilling Across 625 Million Acres
By Jake Beardslee ·
January 6, 2025
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order permanently banning future offshore oil and gas leasing across 625 million acres of U.S. ocean. This decision safeguards the East Coast, eastern Gulf of Mexico, the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, as well as parts of Alaska's Northern Bering Sea, from new drilling. Biden’s move, leveraging the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, will be difficult for future administrations to reverse without congressional approval. Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In his statement, Biden emphasized the need to protect coastal communities and the environment, saying, “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.” Josh Morgan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
While environmental groups and bipartisan leaders have praised the decision, the oil and gas industry has criticized it as detrimental to energy development. Ron Neal of the Independent Petroleum Association of America called the ban “significant and catastrophic,” arguing it undermines the industry’s potential for future exploration. Biden, however, countered that protecting coastlines aligns with economic growth, asserting, “We do not need to choose between protecting the environment and growing our economy.” Jan Zakelj / Pexels
The Biden administration is set to announce the creation of two new national monuments in California, a source familiar with the plans told CNN. The Chuckwalla National Monument, near Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California, and the Sáttítla National Monument in Northern California will be established following advocacy from Native tribes seeking protection from energy development. These designations add to the 10 national monuments Biden has already conserved or expanded during his presidency. Matt H. Wade / Wikimedia
Energy analysts note that this ban may have little immediate impact on U.S. oil production, as existing offshore rigs remain operational and new projects typically take years to develop. However, the move signals a long-term commitment to environmental conservation. GANESH RAMSUMAIR / Pexels
