President Joe Biden announced a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling across more than 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters, including the East and West coasts, parts of Alaska, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This action aims to counter potential expansion plans by the incoming Trump administration.
Biden used the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to safeguard these areas, citing the environmental and public health risks of drilling. “Now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the climate crisis.
The decision excludes the Gulf of Mexico, where most U.S. offshore drilling occurs, but builds on protections implemented by previous administrations. Environmental advocates hailed the move as a victory for ocean conservation and coastal communities.
Trump officials criticized the decision as politically motivated, vowing to reverse it and expand U.S. oil production to achieve “energy dominance.”
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