President Joe Biden banned new offshore oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of U.S. waters. The decision, enacted under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, restricts future leases along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and parts of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea.
Biden cited risks to public health, the environment and local economies, pointing to disasters like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
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The decision supports federal goals to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 and expand renewable energy projects.
Protected Areas
- Atlantic Coast and Eastern Gulf of Mexico: 334 million acres, preserving tourism and fishing industries.
- Pacific Coast: 250 million acres, protecting marine habitats.
- Northern Bering Sea in Alaska: 44 million acres, vital to Indigenous communities and local ecosystems.
Policy and Responses
The Biden administration said the ban addresses areas with limited fossil fuel potential while mitigating risks. Past restrictions under the act have been legally upheld, making reversals difficult without congressional action.
Environmental groups praised the move, citing its benefits to coastal communities. The oil and gas industry, however, argued the decision undermines U.S. energy independence and called on Congress to intervene.
This ban builds on earlier Biden administration efforts to limit Arctic drilling and expand offshore wind projects. Limited leasing in the Gulf of Mexico continues as required under federal law.
