In a significant move aimed at protecting the environment and curbing the impacts of climate change, President Joe Biden announced an executive action that will ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters. The decision, which protects over 625 million acres of federal waters, spans the entire East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Ocean off Washington, Oregon, and California, as well as portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska.

The executive order uses authority under the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. This law grants the President the authority to withdraw federal waters from future oil and gas leasing if they are deemed too sensitive for such activities. The decision is especially significant given the vast expanses of federal waters involved, which are considered crucial for maintaining healthy marine ecosystems and protecting local economies that depend on clean oceans.

However, the ban has faced opposition from the oil and gas industry and some policymakers, particularly from the Republican camp. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to reverse Biden’s decision, asserting that the U.S. should take advantage of its vast oil and gas reserves to bolster the economy. Trump, who previously called for "energy dominance," argued that the ban undermines American energy interests and economic opportunities.

Biden's decision comes as part of his broader effort to combat the climate crisis, transition to clean energy, and safeguard the nation’s coastal ecosystems. "As the climate crisis continues to threaten communities across the country, and we are transitioning to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren," Biden said in a statement. "Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs."

Although the ban will not affect oil and gas production in the central and western Gulf of Mexico, which account for nearly 15% of the nation’s oil and 97% of its offshore gas production, it will limit future exploration and drilling in areas that are particularly vulnerable to environmental risks. The ban is expected to preserve coastlines in states like California and Florida from the industrialization associated with offshore drilling, which environmentalists argue poses significant threats to local wildlife, marine habitats, and public health.

Biden’s action drew praise from environmental groups who hailed it as a major win for coastal communities and the fight against climate change. Joseph Gordon, campaign director for Oceana, called it an "epic ocean victory" and commended Biden for protecting vital coastlines and listening to the concerns of coastal communities.