Oceana Condemns President Trump’s Attempts to Rollback Ocean Protections
Press Release Date: January 21, 2025
Location: WASHINGTON
Contact:
Cory Gunkel, Megan Jordan | email: cgunkel@oceana.org, mjordan@oceana.org | tel: Cory Gunkel, 202.868.4061
After taking office as the 47th president of the United States yesterday, President Trump issued a variety of executive orders that undermine ocean protections. Some of the actions that threaten our oceans include:
- Attempting to undo President Biden’s recent protections for U.S. coastlines from offshore oil and gas drilling, despite enacting similar protections in 2020 for the coasts from North Carolina through Florida;
- Declaring a national energy “emergency” when none exists and allowing federal agencies to override and undermine key laws like the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Clean Water Act in pursuit of polluting fossil fuel extraction;
- Indefinitely pausing the development of any new offshore wind energy facilities; and
- Undermining federal scientists and experts who help manage and protect our oceans.
Oceana Vice President for the United States, Beth Lowell, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s executive orders:
“Our oceans are not a chess piece to play with. Part of what makes the United States great is our beautiful coasts, thriving coastal economies, and productive fisheries — all of which depend on clean coasts and healthy oceans. With his Day 1 actions, President Trump is folding to the demands of the oil and gas industry at the expense of coastal businesses and communities, elected officials, and national security. To put oil and gas exploration and development over the health of our oceans is shortsighted and puts the interests of polluting multinational corporations ahead of hard-working American families. Oceana will continue to hold President Trump and our other elected leaders accountable to uphold strong protections for our oceans, which so many Americans rely on for their livelihoods and way of life.”
Earlier this month, President Biden used his authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw the majority of the unleased areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from future offshore drilling. Previous presidents from both parties have used this authority to withdraw large areas from oil and gas leasing. In 2020, President Trump used this same authority to protect North Carolina through Florida for 10 years. The business community, defense advocacy groups, and the public have called for these areas to be permanently protected.
U.S. coastlines are home to millions of Americans and support billions of dollars of economic activity that depend on a healthy coast, abundant wildlife, and thriving fisheries.
Background
A poll released by Oceana in July 2024 revealed that two-thirds of American voters (64%) support their elected officials protecting U.S. coastlines from new offshore drilling, with similar support among registered voters in coastal states (66%).
A 2021 analysis by Oceana found that ending new leasing could prevent more than $720 billion in damage to people, property, and the environment. The oil industry currently holds more than 2,000 leases, according to a 2023 Oceana report, with 75% of that ocean acreage currently unused. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “The United States produced more crude oil than any other nation at any time, for the past six years in a row.”
For more information about Oceana’s U.S. campaigns, please visit usa.oceana.org.
