Senate Democrats attempted to block a resolution on Tuesday that would repeal a Biden administration regulation restricting offshore oil and gas production. Despite their efforts, the resolution passed with a 54 to 44 vote, as three Senate Democrats—Catherine Cortez-Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada and John Hickenlooper of Colorado—joined Republicans in voting to overturn the rule.
The resolution, sponsored by Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, aims to nullify a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regulation requiring oil and gas leaseholders to conduct additional archaeological surveys before drilling, even in areas previously surveyed. Critics argue the rule imposes unnecessary costs ranging from $10,000 to $1 million per project without clear benefits.
The Biden administration finalized the regulation in September 2024, giving Senate Republicans the chance to challenge it under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The CRA allows Congress to repeal regulations issued in the final months of a previous administration with a simple majority vote.
Senate Republicans condemned Democrats for supporting policies that have driven up energy prices and worsened grid reliability. Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticized the Biden-era regulation, warning that the U.S. is approaching an energy crisis. He pointed to studies showing that energy demand could exceed supply by the end of the decade, a problem exacerbated by stringent environmental policies.
Kennedy emphasized that Biden’s restrictive energy policies have harmed national security and led to higher costs for American consumers. In response, President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day in office, aiming to boost domestic energy production and lower prices. With this latest Senate vote, Republicans are making a concerted push to undo regulations they say have weakened the country’s energy sector.
