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. The executive order, signed during Biden’s final days in office, halts all future offshore drilling along the East and West Coasts, parts of Alaska’s Bering Sea, and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Murrill hinted at a potential lawsuit in response to the ban, calling it 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 invoked the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which allows presidents to withdraw federal waters from oil and gas leasing. Unlike other executive actions, this law is difficult to reverse, meaning that incoming President Donald Trump would not be able to immediately undo the ban when he takes office on Jan. 20. Louisiana Leaders Respond The ban has sparked criticism from Louisiana officials, who say it will harm the state’s energy sector and economy. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill took to X to express her opposition and hinted at legal action, saying:“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 criticized Biden’s energy policy on X:"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 echoed similar sentiments, describing the decision as a continuation of Biden’s anti-energy policies:“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.” Louisiana, a hub for the oil and gas industry, stands to feel significant impacts from the decision. Energy summit highlights Louisiana’s rise in energy production, carbon capture industry Broader Implications and Legal Hurdles Biden emphasized that the ban aims to strengthen protections against oil spills that have previously harmed the environment. Referencing the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, Biden said:“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.” Reversing the ban would require Congress to amend the 1953 law, making an immediate reversal under President Trump unlikely. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Latest Stories Stray dog shot in the face gets a new lease on life in Denver Louisiana AG orders security review after New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans Trump critic named new Washington archbishop Southern University basketball team opens SWAC play with win over Texas Southern What to expect from gas prices in 2025