Staff Reports
President Joe Biden’s grand plans to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters are rolling out just in time for his departure from the Oval Office, as if he’s trying to leave an energy crisis gift for the next administration. Apparently, the Democrat party still believes that fossil fuels are the enemy, despite the fact that Americans have shown repeatedly they value energy independence and economic growth—two concepts completely alien to the current administration.
In a last-ditch effort to throw a wrench in Donald Trump’s promise to revitalize American energy production, Biden is attempting to leverage the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to declare a significant portion of federal waters off-limits for future drilling. This move covers over 625 million acres and targets key areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea. So much for “transitioning to a clean energy economy”—these moves look less like thoughtful environmental stewardship and more like a paranoid grasp at control over America’s energy resources.
Biden claims his decision is rooted in protecting coastal communities, businesses, and the environment, arguing that drilling could cause irreversible damage. However, the reality is that drilling doesn’t just mean economic opportunity; it symbolizes independence from foreign energy dependency. It seems that the current administration holds the belief that Americans can no longer trust themselves to responsibly manage their own resources. Who needs jobs, lower energy prices, or a flourishing economy when you can declare more federal land off-limits instead?
The soon-to-be former president’s efforts may soon become moot, as Trump is making it clear he plans to reverse this ill-advised decision faster than a speeding bullet—on his very first day in office. In typical Trump fashion, he stands ready to dismantle Biden’s green thumb legacy with a stroke of his pen, declaring that he has the proper authority to “unban” drilling and restore America’s energy dominance. The irony of a president so close to leaving office trying to lock away resources all while Trump preps to open the floodgates doesn’t seem lost on anyone paying attention.
Biden Bans Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling in 625 Million Acres as Trump Vows to Reverse Ithttps://t.co/3Y92N3Y9Ye
— Ben Owen (@hrkbenowen) January 6, 2025
So, as the clock ticks down to Biden’s final days, the energy future hangs on a balance. Will American energy independence be sacrificed for a delusional climate crusade, or will Trump successfully unleash the untapped oil and gas reserves that could propel America toward economic excellence? The answer is coming soon, but if Trump’s track record teaches us anything, it’s that they’ve underestimated his resolve to make America energy independent once again, and that might just rub a few eco-activists the wrong way.
