House Passes Bill Blocking Future Presidents From Banning Oil Drilling Without Congress’ Approval

Legislation was approved with a vote of 226 to 188 by the House, which is under Republican control, to ensure that future administrations cannot prohibit oil and gas drilling without Congressional approval, marking another significant victory for President Donald Trump.

The “Protecting American Energy Production Act” was enacted by lawmakers during a vote on Friday, which prohibits the president from “declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress grants authorization for such a moratorium.”

All Republican members of the House voted in favor of the legislation, while 118 Democrats opposed it.

In the weeks leading up to his departure from office, former President Joe Biden imposed a ban on future oil and gas drilling across 625 million acres of coastal and offshore waters, along with other regulations related to oil and gas. This bill is a response to those actions.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. August Pfluger from Texas, indicated that the legislation was motivated by concerns regarding potential fracking bans during the Biden administration.

“When President Biden assumed office, his administration adopted a ‘whole of government’ strategy to wage war on American energy production, catering to radical environmentalists and undermining this flourishing industry,” Pfluger remarked in a statement after the bill’s passage.

“The legislation that was approved today is a crucial initial step in countering Biden’s assault on energy by preventing the federal government from outlawing hydraulic fracturing,” he added.

As part of his “drill, baby, drill” initiative, President Donald Trump has committed to promoting energy production within the United States since his campaign.

Should the president enact the bill into law, it would prevent subsequent administrations from banning this drilling method.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum initiated internal inquiries into agency actions that “hinder” energy development on Monday, eliminating the energy sector of “coercive” climate policies and oil lease prohibitions established during the Biden administration.

This development coincides with a recent national poll indicating that a majority of Democrats are dissatisfied with the performance of their party’s lawmakers in Congress.

As per a Quinnipiac University survey published on Wednesday, 53% of Democratic participants expressed disapproval of congressional Democrats’ job performance, while only 41% showed approval.

Among all voters surveyed from June 5 to June 8, merely 21% approved of how Democrats in Congress are executing their responsibilities, with 70% expressing disapproval.

The 21% approval rating aligns with the figure from Quinnipiac’s February national poll, marking “an all-time low since Quinnipiac University first posed this question to registered voters in March 2009.”

Conversely, the survey reveals that 79% of Republican voters approve of the performance of congressional Republicans, while 13% disapprove, as reported by Fox News, referencing the survey’s findings.

Among the entire voter base, 32% approved of the job performance of congressional Republicans, while just over 60% indicated disapproval.

Overall approval for Republicans in Congress has decreased by eight points since Quinnipiac’s February poll, with disapproval increasing by nine points during the same timeframe.

The Democratic Party has been experiencing a period of political turmoil since the November elections, when Republicans regained control of the White House and the Senate while maintaining their slim majority in the House.

Compounding the setback, Republicans have made gains with significant Democratic demographics, including black, Hispanic, and younger voters.

Since President Donald Trump’s return to office earlier this year, the Democratic base has become increasingly energized, urging party leaders to adopt a more assertive approach against the president’s extensive and contentious agenda during the initial months of his second term.

The frustration is directed not only at Republicans but also at fellow Democrats who are perceived as overly passive in their opposition.

This rising discontent has led to a significant drop in the Democratic Party’s favorability ratings, which have plummeted to historic lows in various polls over the past several months.

This situation is advantageous for Republicans as they approach the 2026 midterm elections.