Louisiana AG signals lawsuit as state leaders push back on Biden’s offshore drilling ban

WASHINGTON D.C. (BRPROUD) -- Louisiana officials, including Attorney General Liz Murrill, have voiced strong opposition to President Joe Biden’s recent offshore oil drilling ban, citing its potential economic impacts.

Signed during Biden’s final days in office, the executive order halts all future drilling along the East and West Coasts, parts of Alaska’s Bering Sea, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The move, made under the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, cannot be immediately reversed by incoming President Donald Trump. Murrill hinted at a potential lawsuit, calling the decision a "direct threat" to national security and the energy workforce.

Biden's Statement on the Ban

In his order, Biden emphasized the need for environmental protection, citing the risks offshore drilling poses to coastal communities and ecosystems.

“My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs. It is not worth the risks,” Biden said.

Biden defended the ban as necessary to address climate risks and prevent catastrophic oil spills, referencing the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster:
“The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a man-made catastrophe that took the lives of eleven people and spilled millions of barrels of oil into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, is a solemn reminder of the costs and risks of offshore drilling.”

Louisiana Leaders Respond

The ban has sparked widespread criticism in Louisiana, a hub for the oil and gas industry. Officials argue the decision will harm the state’s economy and energy independence.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill took to X to express her opposition, hinting at legal action:
"After 4 years of incompetence & bureaucratic reign by DC over the American people, @JoeBiden’s parting gift is to attack America’s energy independence. This is a direct threat to our national security & the hard-working men & women of this Country. Lawsuit incoming - stay tuned.”

Senator John Kennedy also criticized Biden’s energy policy on X, saying:
"From Day 1, Pres. Biden’s energy policy has been—for political reasons—to have America forfeit its energy independence. I think he'd prefer to have us buy oil from countries that hate us so that those countries will have more money to buy weapons to try to kill us."

Senator Bill Cassidy described the decision as part of Biden’s broader anti-energy agenda:
“It’s only fitting that as a parting shot, Joe Biden’s war on American energy and the American energy worker continues,” Cassidy said. “This action cuts off well-paying energy jobs for Americans that want to have a better life to satisfy an environmental left wing who only cares about abstract notions.”

Congressman Clay Higgins pledged to fight the ban, stating:
"Joe Biden has been at war with the oil and gas industry since day one. His latest ban will not stand. I’ll be introducing legislation ensuring President Trump can swiftly overturn this action and unleash American energy dominance."

Industry Leaders Weigh In

The Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association (LMOGA), which represents key stakeholders in the state’s energy sector, criticized the decision. LMOGA President Tommy Faucheux said:
"American energy leadership is crucial for global stability, but it demands supportive policies from Washington. The recent offshore drilling ban, though not directly affecting the western Gulf of Mexico, is a blatant attack on the oil and natural gas industry—an industry vital to our nation's energy security and economic strength."

Faucheux added that LMOGA will work with the next presidential administration to reverse the policy and support American energy development.

Broader Implications and Legal Hurdles

Reversing the ban would require Congress to amend the 1953 law, making immediate action by President Trump unlikely. The ban focuses on protecting coastal regions and reducing risks associated with offshore drilling, including oil spills. It aligns with environmental conservation efforts to transition toward cleaner energy sources and mitigate environmental hazards.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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