As President Joe Biden prepares to leave office, his administration seems intent on leaving environmental activists a final parting gift—one that could hobble America’s energy independence for years to come. Reports suggest that Biden is poised to enact restrictions on offshore oil and gas drilling, effectively setting up roadblocks for President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to restore the U.S. energy sector. For an administration that has championed “bold climate action,” this latest move seems less about environmental stewardship and more about political gamesmanship.
According to sources, Biden’s executive order would ban new lease sales for oil and gas exploration in certain areas of the outer continental shelf. Although the exact locations are still unclear, speculation points to parts of the Gulf of Mexico and California’s coastline as likely targets. Unsurprisingly, this aligns perfectly with the goals of wealthy environmental lobbyists and progressive politicians eager to cast Biden as a climate hero. For everyday Americans, however, this so-called win for the environment could mean skyrocketing energy bills and the loss of critical jobs in the energy sector.
This maneuver fits neatly into a broader pattern of Biden’s administration putting ideology over practicality. Trump’s vision of an energy-independent America now faces an uphill battle, thanks to federal provisions that make it notoriously difficult to reverse such restrictions. Presidents have the power to lock federal waters off-limits to development, but reversing these decisions is a convoluted legal process. This calculated move all but guarantees that Biden’s environmental policies will haunt Trump’s efforts to rebuild the energy sector long after Biden is gone.
Biden’s eleventh-hour push for climate policies isn’t an isolated incident. Over the past year, his administration introduced the most restrictive offshore leasing plan in U.S. history, effectively stalling domestic energy production. Additional moves include blocking oil and gas exploration in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains for two decades and funneling taxpayer money into green energy projects. These actions might win applause from elite environmentalists, but they do little to address the immediate energy and economic needs of ordinary Americans. For families dealing with rising utility costs and dwindling job opportunities in energy-rich areas, these policies feel more like a slap than a solution.
As Biden’s presidency winds down, his aggressive push to lock in radical environmental policies feels more like a legacy grab than responsible governance. The timing of these actions raises questions about priorities, with the administration appearing more focused on appeasing its progressive allies than on ensuring energy stability and economic growth. The result? A diminished energy sector, increased reliance on foreign resources, and a legacy that prioritizes ideology over the real-world needs of the American people.
