Partisan Divide Deepens Over Offshore Energy Policy

The Offshore Lands Authorities Act of 2025 (H.R. 513) has become a central piece of the Republican-led push to expand offshore oil and gas leasing. With the GOP controlling both chambers of Congress and President Trump backing the measure, the bill seeks to reverse previous executive withdrawals that restricted leasing and impose new limits on presidential authority in future energy decisions.

Republican Push for Offshore Expansion

Introduced by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), H.R. 513 nullifies multiple executive orders that previously withdrew offshore lands from leasing, including:

• Arctic Region & Pacific Coast – Withdrawals affecting the Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and Atlantic canyon areas.
• North Aleutian Basin – 2014 leasing prohibitions.
• Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Areas – Protected zones reinstated in 2021.
• Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Pacific Offshore Areas – 2025 executive orders restricting leasing.

The bill also imposes strict limits on future executive withdrawals, ensuring offshore leasing decisions adhere to congressional oversight:

• Withdrawal Size Limits – No single withdrawal can exceed 150,000 acres.
• Time Restrictions – Withdrawals cannot last longer than 20 years.
• Cumulative Limitations – Presidents cannot withdraw more than 500,000 acres cumulatively without congressional approval.
• Mandatory Economic & Mineral Assessments – Withdrawals must be supported by mineral resource surveys, national security analyses, and revenue impact studies.

Supporters argue that it restores stability to energy investment, preventing abrupt shifts in leasing policy due to administrative changes.

Democratic Opposition and Environmental Concerns

Despite Republican dominance in Congress, Democrats and environmental advocates remain staunchly opposed to the bill, arguing that it prioritizes fossil fuel development over climate and conservation efforts.

Critics warn that limiting executive authority on leasing withdrawals could prevent future administrations from responding to environmental crises, scientific findings, or public concerns over marine protection. Additionally, restrictions on offshore withdrawals could impact conservation programs that rely on leasing revenues, including federal allocations to coastal preservation.

Some Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the bill’s prohibition on judicial review, arguing that it removes legal challenges to controversial leasing decisions and weakens environmental protections.

A Republican-Controlled Congress Signals a Clear Path Forward

With Republican majorities in both chambers, H.R. 513 is likely to advance quickly through Congress, facing little resistance in the House and a strong likelihood of passage in the Senate. President Trump has signaled firm support, indicating that restricting presidential withdrawals will prevent future Democratic administrations from blocking offshore leasing.

The bill’s passage could reshape offshore leasing policies for years, reinforcing the sharp partisan divide between energy development advocates and environmental protection proponents. The coming weeks will determine whether opposition efforts succeed in slowing its momentum.