Staff Reports
Joe Biden appears to be doing everything he can to make life difficult for the incoming Trump administration, and his latest stunt is nothing short of a last-minute act of sabotage. Just as President-elect Donald Trump gears up to take office, Biden decided to give a parting gift to American energy opponents by issuing an order that bans offshore drilling along nearly the entire U.S. coastline, including Alaska. This 11th-hour move hardly screams environmental concern; it reeks of political spite.
Trump made it clear that he intends to reverse this egregious ban the moment he steps into office. During his campaign, he promised to revitalize America’s energy sector by expanding oil and gas drilling, a strategy that would not only lower energy costs but also bolster national security and create jobs. After Biden’s draconian order, which was signed under the guise of combating climate change, it is evident that the outgoing president is attempting to throw a wrench in Trump’s plans. If Biden genuinely cared about the climate, one wonders why he waited until the final days of his administration to implement such a sweeping ban.
The directive establishes a permanent halt on new oil and gas drilling across a staggering 625 million acres. This includes significant areas along the East and West coasts and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea. Trump’s promise to “unban it immediately,” while appealing, may encounter legal hurdles due to Biden’s use of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). This 1953 law allows presidents to impose bans on oil and gas development, unfortunately creating a barrier that cannot be simply erased with a stroke of a pen.
Trump Vows to 'Immediately' Overturn Biden Drilling Ban – but It May Not Be That Easyhttps://t.co/BVYLyCpabx
— RedState (@RedState) January 6, 2025
Indeed, Trump faces an uphill battle. A federal court has already ruled that his powers under OCSLA do not extend to reversing bans set by previous administrations. This means that Trump would likely need congressional approval to overturn Biden’s order. So, while he can blast Biden’s actions as detrimental to American energy independence, the reality is that he may be stuck navigating the murky waters of the legislative process to undo this last-minute mess.
Biden’s apparent assault on energy production aligns with a broader pattern of hostility towards American energy independence. His actions reflect not a commitment to combating climate change but rather a vindictive political maneuver that showcases his disdain for the incoming administration. Even Republican leaders, like Alaska’s Congressman Nick Begich III, have criticized Biden’s timing and intentions, suggesting that this is merely a revenge tactic against the American people. If anything, this incident encapsulates the desperation of an administration that is willing to risk economic stability in its final days out of sheer spite.
