Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has praised President Biden's decision to withdraw specific offshore areas in the United States from future oil and natural gas leasing. The move is intended to prevent environmental and economic risks associated with drilling in these regions, which are deemed to outweigh the potential benefits of fossil fuel extraction. This decision aims to safeguard coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and local economies that rely on fishing, recreation, and tourism.

"President Biden’s actions today are part of our work across this Administration to make bold and enduring changes that recognize the impact of oil and gas drilling on our nation’s coastlines," said Secretary Haaland. "Today, the President is taking action that reflects what states, Tribes and local communities have shared with us – a strong and overwhelming need to support resilient oceans and coastlines by protecting them from unnecessary oil and gas development."

The withdrawal was executed using authority under section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). It includes significant portions of the Outer Continental Shelf such as the entire U.S. Pacific and Eastern Atlantic coasts, Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area offshore Alaska. In total, more than 625 million acres have been withdrawn from future leasing activities.

Despite this new measure, oil production on federal lands reached an all-time high in 2024. In fiscal year 2023 alone, approximately 675 million barrels of oil were produced from the Outer Continental Shelf along with 796 billion cubic feet of gas—constituting around 14% of U.S. oil production.

The National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2024-2029 plans three potential lease sales in Gulf of Mexico areas not affected by this action. By contrast, a previous administration proposed a program with 47 lease sales covering many areas now withdrawn—a proposal met with bipartisan opposition.

Historically low industry activity has been observed in newly withdrawn zones; no active exploration or development occurs along eastern U.S Atlantic shores or within Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area. Existing leases remain unaffected by these withdrawals.

Maps detailing affected regions will be available via White House resources soon.