With simply days remaining in workplace, President Joe Biden has forged uncertainty over President-Elect Donald Trump’s marketing campaign guarantees of U.S. vitality dominance. On Jan. 6, 2025, President Biden introduced an government motion to completely ban future offshore oil and gasoline growth throughout 625 million acres of U.S. shoreline, citing „irreversible injury“ to coastal communities and assertions that such growth is pointless to satisfy the nation’s vitality wants.1
President Biden’s ban invokes the broad authority granted to presidents below Part 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which permits for the withdrawal of federal waters from oil and gasoline leasing.2 The ban will successfully block oil corporations from leasing waters for brand spanking new drilling alongside all the East Coast and the Japanese Gulf of Mexico, in addition to the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California, and elements of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea.3
In response, President-Elect Trump has pledged to reverse the ban on his first day in workplace, calling it „ridiculous.“ Nonetheless, reversing the ban could show difficult. Although the legislation empowers presidents to withdraw federal waters, it doesn’t explicitly authorize the revocation of such actions.4 Consequently, President-Elect Trump could must depend on Congress to overturn President Biden’s ban.
Texas Republicans, echoing Trump’s sentiments, have voiced sturdy opposition to President Biden’s transfer.5 Ought to Texas be involved?
Although the ban is introduced as a complete measure to guard coastal areas, its influence is anticipated to be largely symbolic. Traditionally, the areas affected by President Biden’s ban have seen little to no oil and gasoline manufacturing.6 In the meantime, the ban notably leaves the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico untouched. These parts of the Gulf of Mexico, bordering Texas and Louisiana, stay prime areas for oil and gasoline manufacturing. Consequently, the influence on the U.S. oil provide and economic system is anticipated to be minimal.
For Texas, a pacesetter within the oil and gasoline sector, the exclusion of the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico from Biden’s ban is important. Even when Biden’s ban is to stay in impact, Texas‘ vitality sector is poised to proceed its position as a key contributor within the international oil and gasoline market.
Notes
1 The White Home: „Memorandum on the Withdrawal of Sure Areas of the US Outer Continental Shelf from Oil or Pure Fuel Leasing“ – hereinafter, „Biden Memorandum“ (Jan. 6, 2025); The White Home: „Assertion from President Joe Biden on Defending America’s Ocean and Coasts from Offshore Oil and Fuel Drilling“ (Jan. 6, 2025); The White Home, FACT SHEET: „President Biden Protects Atlantic and Pacific Coasts from Offshore Oil and Fuel Drilling“ (Jan. 6, 2025).
2 43 U.S.C. § 1341(a).
3 Biden Memorandum; U.S. Division of the Inside, „Alaska Withdrawal“ (January 6, 2025); Inside Division, „Pacific Gulf Atlantic Withdrawal“ (January 6, 2025).
4 43 U.S.C. § 1341(a) („The President of the US could, now and again, withdraw from disposition any of the unleased lands of the outer Continental Shelf.“).
5 See Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) (@JohnCornyn), X (Jan. 6, 2025, 9:03 a.m. CT); Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) (@RepTroyNehls), X (Jan. 6, 2025, 11:32 a.m. CT).
6 Rachel Frazin, „What to learn about Biden’s new offshore drilling restrictions,“ The Hill (Jan. 7, 2025).
20 Posts in 20 Days Resulting in Inauguration Day on Jan. 20
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