U.S. Rep. James Comer representing Kentucky's 1st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. James Comer representing Kentucky's 1st Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer has expressed criticism towards the Biden Administration's recent move to limit U.S. energy production. In a letter addressed to Secretary Deb Haaland of the Department of the Interior (DOI), Comer has requested an immediate briefing concerning President Biden's executive memorandum that aims to restrict oil and gas drilling across hundreds of millions of acres of U.S. ocean territory.
"The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is conducting oversight of President Biden’s decision to permanently ban future oil and natural gas production in 625 million acres of U.S. coastal territory," Comer stated. He further accused President Biden of attempting to disrupt the incoming administration's energy plans, led by President-elect Donald Trump, by discouraging domestic energy production.
According to Comer, President Biden has closed "670 million acres of U.S. lands, waters, and oceans to oil and gas drilling – more than any president in history." The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act grants the president authority over unleased lands on the outer Continental Shelf. During his first term, President-elect Trump tried to reverse offshore leasing bans from former President Obama but faced legal challenges from environmental groups.
Comer criticized the timing of this closure, noting it comes just days before Trump's inauguration. "The closure of over 90 percent of the acres just 14 days before President-elect Trump’s inauguration is a blatantly political and erratic last-gasp attempt," he said.
Comer emphasized the importance of DOI's role in managing offshore energy resources and highlighted discrepancies between Secretary Haaland's defense of the ban and previous assurances from President Biden about cooperation with Trump's team. The committee seeks clarity on what they describe as a politically-motivated ban that will require attention from both the incoming administration and Congress.
The letter sent to DOI Secretary Deb Haaland can be accessed for further details.
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