President Joe Biden has made an important decision to stop new oil and gas drilling in certain offshore areas. On January 6, 2025, he announced that 625 million acres of ocean will be protected from future drilling. This includes areas off the East Coast, West Coast, Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s North Bering Sea.
This action is not just about protecting the environment—it also challenges plans by former President Donald Trump, who will soon return to office. Trump wanted to increase oil and gas drilling, but Biden’s move creates a big roadblock.
Biden used a very old law called the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) from 1953. This law gives presidents the power to permanently stop drilling in certain areas of the ocean. Here’s the catch: there’s no clear way for a future president to reverse it unless Congress changes the law.
Biden explained his reasons in a statement. He said, “Drilling in the areas [he’s] seeking to protect ‘could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs.’” He also said, “It is not worth the risks.” Biden believes protecting these areas will help fight the climate crisis and keep the oceans safe for future generations.
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Trump’s team is very upset about Biden’s decision. Karoline Leavitt, who will be Trump’s press secretary, criticized the move in a social media post. She called it a “disgraceful decision” and said it was meant to hurt Trump’s supporters. She ended her post by saying, “Rest assured, Joe Biden will fail, and we will drill, baby, drill.”
The oil and gas industry is also unhappy. Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said the decision is “politically motivated.” He argued that offshore oil and gas resources are important for affordable energy, jobs, and global stability.
Biden’s decision shows how he and Trump have very different ideas about energy. Trump believes in using more fossil fuels like oil and gas. He thinks this will lower gas prices and create jobs. Biden, on the other hand, is focused on the environment and clean energy. He wants to fight climate change by reducing America’s dependence on oil and gas. Biden said, “We are transitioning to a clean energy economy.”
Biden also pointed out that the Republicans and Democrats support the protection of the coasts. “From California to Florida, Republican and Democratic Governors, Members of Congress, and coastal communities alike have worked and called for greater protection of our ocean and coastlines,” he said.
Offshore drilling is a big issue in the U.S. People who support it say it helps the country become energy-independent and provides jobs. But others say it can cause serious problems, like oil spills, which harm the environment and hurt coastal businesses like tourism and fishing.
By blocking new drilling, Biden is taking a stand for the environment. He wants to protect the oceans and fight climate change, even if it makes some people angry.
This decision also continues efforts by past presidents to protect the environment. For example, President Barack Obama banned Arctic offshore drilling during his time in office. Biden’s move shows that he wants to leave a legacy similar to protecting the planet.
Biden’s decision is a big step, but it’s not the end of the story. Trump’s team and the oil industry will likely push hard to reverse it. Since the law makes it difficult for a president to undo these protections, Trump may need Congress to change the rules.
For now, Biden’s message is clear: he wants to prioritize the environment over fossil fuels. Whether this decision will last or be overturned in the future remains to be seen.
Featured image via screengrab
