President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his commitment to expanding domestic energy production earlier in the week, vowing to reverse President Joe Biden’s recent ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling across U.S. coastal waters.
In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump criticized Biden’s decision, saying, “I see it just came over that Biden has banned all oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of U.S. coastal territory. It’s ridiculous. I’ll unban it immediately.”
He also doubled down on the move during a press conference on Tuesday.
President-elect Trump vows to “immediately” reverse Pres. Biden’s move to ban all future offshore oil and natural gas drilling.
“[It] will not stand … We will drill, baby, drill.” https://t.co/8RrzQuRvO3 pic.twitter.com/S8j2lqjYQ5
— ABC News (@ABC) January 7, 2025
Biden’s wide-reaching ban, enacted under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, prohibits new oil and gas exploration in federal waters along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska’s northern Bering Sea. The decision has been celebrated by environmental organizations and Democratic lawmakers, who have urged Biden to establish lasting protections against offshore drilling as his presidency winds down.
However, the ban has faced sharp criticism from Republican leaders and energy advocates. Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt condemned the move, calling it a “disgraceful act designed to punish American families who supported President Trump’s agenda of energy independence and lower fuel costs.”
In defending his decision, Biden emphasized the environmental dangers of offshore drilling. “Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs. It is not worth the risks,” he said in a statement.
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act gives the president authority to restrict energy leasing in specific areas, but reversing these protections is legally complex. A 2019 court ruling established that while presidents can impose such bans under the act, lifting them might require approval from Congress.
With Trump set to take office in just two weeks, energy policy remains a central point of contention. Trump has consistently promised to prioritize domestic oil and gas production, framing it as a key component of his strategy for achieving “American energy dominance.”
