Biden Expected To Block More Offshore Oil Drilling Prior To Trumps Inauguration

In his final days in office, President Joe Biden is preparing to limit new offshore oil and gas activities along parts of the U.S. coastline, potentially complicating President-elect Donald Trump's plans to expand domestic energy production. According to Bloomberg, an executive order is expected "within days" that would block new drilling rights in select regions of the outer continental shelf. This action would leverage a 1953 law granting the president authority to indefinitely halt oil exploration in U.S. waters without providing clear directives on reversing such bans.

Biden's decision to further restrict offshore drilling comes after pressure from Democrats and environmental activists to act before his term ends, and Trump assumes office on January 20. In 2023, Biden drastically reduced the number of oil and gas leases available in the Gulf of Mexico, setting a historic low with only three lease sales planned for 2025, 2027, and 2029, as the Department of the Interior (DOI) noted.

Following Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in November, the Biden administration ramped up its environmental initiatives. This week, the DOI introduced new conservation measures in Nevada's Ruby Mountains, prohibiting energy development across a significant area for the next two decades. Additionally, the administration acquired a 640-acre plot in Wyoming adjacent to the Grand Teton National Park, enforcing permanent environmental restrictions on this land.

Contrastingly, during the 2024 election campaign, Trump pledged to revitalize U.S. energy production, emphasizing a policy to "drill, baby, drill." In a September speech in Flint, Michigan, Trump committed to reducing energy costs by 50% within a year, stating, "We have to start always with energy... If you make donuts, cars, or whatever you make, energy is a big deal." He further argued that such reductions would lead to lower interest rates, helping to address economic challenges