Newly confirmed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued his first orders Tuesday to implement President Donald Trump’s declared “national energy emergency,” declaring former president Joe Biden’s withdrawal of Outer Continental Shelf areas from oil and gas leasing will be reversed.
One order “notifies the Department that the ‘ban has been unbanned’ and directs all bureaus and offices to comply with President Trump’s revocation of the withdrawals as outlined in Executive Order 14148, ‘Initial Recissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,’” according to a summary issued by the department. “Furthermore, Interior is immediately directed to resume taking all actions available to expedite the leasing of the OCS for oil and gas exploration and production.”
“Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Department of the Interior,” said Burgum. “We are committed to working collaboratively to unlock America’s full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of America’s natural resources and innovation.”
Among other actions Burgum called for “a review of all appropriations” from the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, “to ensure consistency with President Trump’s energy dominance policies.” The new policies also call for a review of all domestic mining and processing of non-fuel minerals.
Three of Biden’s offshore leasing withdrawals are targeted by Burgum’s order: a closing of potential Arctic areas of the OCS in March 2023, and sweeping withdrawals in Biden’s last order of Jan. 6 this year that took out some 625 million acres.
“The Department will resume taking all actions available to expedite the leasing of the Outer Continental Shelf for oil and gas exploration and production,” according to the agency statement.
Trump and Burgum promise to remove more regulatory hurdles from the industry as well.
"By addressing burdensome regulatory barriers—including a much-needed reassessment of the inadequate 2024-2029 offshore oil and gas leasing program—these actions will align U.S. energy policy with the nation’s current and future needs,” said Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association. “They will enhance energy security, bolster national defense, grow our economy, and keep energy affordable for every household and business, reducing reliance on foreign adversaries.”
Whether the Trump administration can legally roll back the Biden withdrawals is bound to face court challenges under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1951, which gives presidents broad long-term authority. It’s the latest in dueling executive actions on ocean policy dating back to the Bush administration, with fights over energy leasing and national marine monument designations.
Environmental groups that pushed for Biden’s last-minute withdrawals are preparing for the next fight.
Oceana Campaign Director Joseph Gordon released the following statement in response to the secretarial orders:
“Part of what makes the United States great is our beautiful coasts and their thriving economies — all of which is now at risk.,” said Joseph Gordon, a campaign director with the activist group Oceana. “The department of the Interior just announced its intention to rapidly expand offshore drilling, which would bring seismic blasting and destructive oil spills. Oceana calls on local and national lawmakers to stand up and oppose offshore drilling and spilling off their coasts.”