Former President Donald Trump has pledged to overturn President Biden's recent ban on offshore drilling along a significant portion of the U.S. coastline. This promise, central to Trump's 2024 campaign platform of expanding domestic energy production, faces substantial legal obstacles due to a decades-old law.
Biden's executive order, issued shortly before leaving office, prohibits new oil and gas drilling across approximately 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters. This move directly counters Trump's stated intention to boost American energy independence through increased drilling. Trump has publicly criticized the ban, calling it "ridiculous" and vowing to "unban it immediately." He considers domestic energy resources a crucial economic asset.
Former President Donald Trump stated he would overturn President Biden's coastal drilling restrictions. (Sarah Meyssonnier)
The executive order, enacted under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), restricts drilling along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska's Northern Bering Sea. While Trump asserts his authority to reverse the ban, legal experts point to a 1953 provision within OCSLA that empowers presidents to establish these restrictions, and a 2019 federal court ruling affirmed that such bans cannot be easily overturned by subsequent administrations without Congressional approval. This presents a significant challenge to Trump's plan.
Offshore oil and gas platforms located in the Beta Field off the coast of Long Beach, California. (Tim Rue)
Biden justified the ban as a measure to combat climate change, aligning with his broader green energy agenda. He argued that the potential environmental damage to coastal areas outweighs the benefits of expanded drilling, particularly given the nation's transition towards cleaner energy sources. Trump's spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, condemned the decision as politically motivated and detrimental to American energy interests, reiterating Trump's commitment to expanding drilling operations.
