Biden aims to prohibit the exploration of new oil and gas fields, according to Bloomberg.

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, intends to prohibit new offshore oil and gas developments in U.S. coastal areas. This decision may be made on January 6.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Bloomberg.

Specifically, this decision excludes the sale of drilling rights in the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico.

Biden's decision, which is expected to be announced on January 6, according to the publication, "will further enhance his reputation on climate issues," deepening his experience in promoting conservation and zero-emission energy.

It is based on a series of last-minute steps by the White House to protect land and the environment before the newly elected president Donald Trump assumes office.

Why This Decision is Not Favorable for Trump

Unlike other measures Biden has taken to limit fossil fuel development and greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change, "this step may have a long-lasting impact, making it difficult for Trump's intention to increase domestic oil and gas production."

"This is because Biden's planned announcement is based on a 72-year-old provision of federal law that gives presidents broad authority to withdraw U.S. waters from oil leasing without direct permission for revocation," Bloomberg notes.

At the same time, as the authors write, this decision will not affect drilling and other activities under existing lease agreements.

"It also leaves the door open for Republican lawmakers to arrange for the sale of oil leases in the central and western parts of the Gulf of Mexico as a way to increase revenue that could offset costs related to continuing tax cuts," the article states.

Environmentalists have stated that Biden's move ensures that oil companies will not be able to tap into reserves in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the southern Pacific Ocean, which have long attracted industry interest. They added that the protection aligns with the growing public interest in limiting offshore oil drilling.

Meanwhile, supporters of the oil industry argue that the planned actions restrict U.S. energy capacity, even as the country stands on the brink of a significant expected increase in electricity demand from data centers, artificial intelligence, and manufacturing.

Journalists clarify that Trump could order the reversal of Biden's actions, just as he attempted to undo President Barack Obama's revocation during his first term. However, Trump's previous attempt was rejected by a federal district court in 2019.

"Additionally, some waters targeted by Biden overlap with areas near Florida and the southeastern U.S., which Trump himself temporarily withdrew from oil and gas leasing during the last weeks of the 2020 presidential campaign. Otherwise, Trump's withdrawal expires in 2032," the media specifies.

As previously reported, the Biden administration is developing new, stricter sanctions against oil trade with the Russian Federation. Thus, the team is trying to increase pressure on the Kremlin's military industry ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House.