Biden's 'ridiculous' ban on new oil and gas drilling along US coast will be immediately reversed by Trump.

President-elect Trump intends to reverse President Biden's ban on offshore drilling, but he may encounter significant obstacles due to a 70-year, unalterable law.

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to increase oil and gas drilling in order to strengthen domestic energy production.

Biden issued an 11th-hour executive order Monday morning to prevent oil and gas drilling in U.S. coastal and offshore waters, covering about 625 million acres, two weeks before his term ends.

"It's preposterous. I'll reinstate it right away," Trump stated on "The Hugh Hewitt Show" on Monday. "What's going on?"

""Our country's greatest economic asset must not be allowed to happen," Trump stated."

The executive order, issued under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), aims to prevent future oil and natural gas leasing in specific areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of Alaska's Northern Bering Sea.

Trump claimed that he has the authority to reverse the order, but since Biden issued it under a 1953 law that empowers the president to implement bans on oil and gas development, he cannot simply rescind it.

In 2019, during Trump's first term, a federal judge determined that OCSLA does not allow presidents to overturn bans set by prior administrations. As a result, Trump would need congressional approval to reverse Biden's decision.

Biden's decision was driven by his efforts to combat climate change, which is part of his broader green energy plan.

"Biden stated that drilling off the coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we cherish and is not necessary to meet our energy needs. He emphasized that the risks are not worth it, especially as the climate crisis threatens communities and we transition to a clean energy economy. It is crucial to protect these coasts for future generations."

Karoline Leavitt, Trump's spokeswoman, released a statement criticizing Biden's order.

"Joe Biden's decision to halt drilling and raise gas prices is a disgraceful move aimed at exacting political revenge on the American people who voted for President Trump to increase drilling and lower gas prices. Rest assured, this decision will fail, and we will continue to drill, baby, drill," Leavitt stated.