President Joe Biden has taken action to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters in a last-minute effort to prevent potential expansion of offshore drilling by the incoming Trump administration. Biden cited the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect offshore areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska's Northern Bering Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing.
Biden emphasized the need to safeguard these coastal areas, stating that drilling could cause irreversible damage and is unnecessary to meet the nation's energy needs. With a focus on transitioning to a clean energy economy and addressing the climate crisis, Biden aims to protect these coasts for future generations.
