House Approves Bill Requiring Congressional Consent to Ban Oil Drilling
In a 226-188 vote, the Republican-led House passed a bill on Friday that would prevent any future president from halting oil and gas drilling activities without first receiving approval from Congress.
Known as the “Protecting American Energy Production Act,” the bill specifically blocks the president from imposing a ban on hydraulic fracturing—or fracking—unless such action is explicitly authorized by lawmakers.
All Republican representatives backed the measure, while 118 Democrats voted in opposition.
This legislative move comes in response to actions taken by former President Joe Biden near the end of his term, when he issued a ban on new oil and gas leasing across 625 million acres of offshore and coastal waters. The bill seeks to limit the executive branch’s ability to make similar decisions moving forward.
Texas Republican Rep. August Pfluger, who introduced the bill, cited concerns over potential restrictions on fracking during the Biden administration as his motivation.
“When President Biden took office, his administration took a ‘whole of government’ approach to wage war on American energy production, pandering to woke environmental extremists and crippling this thriving industry,” Pfluger said in a statement following the bill’s approval.
“My legislation that passed today is a necessary first step in reversing Biden’s war on energy by preventing the federal government from banning the use of hydraulic fracturing,” he added.
Former President Donald Trump has consistently emphasized boosting domestic energy output as part of his “drill, baby, drill” campaign slogan, and the newly passed legislation aligns with that agenda. Should it be signed into law, it would block future administrations from unilaterally banning fracking.
On Monday, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced internal reviews targeting policies deemed burdensome to energy development. These efforts aim to reverse climate-focused restrictions and oil lease prohibitions enacted during the Biden era.
Meanwhile, President Trump is experiencing a notable increase in his approval ratings, despite backlash over his aggressive trade reforms. His support has remained resilient even amid disapproval from Democrats, some establishment Republicans, and various media outlets.
A poll conducted by J.L. Partners in partnership with the Daily Mail, surveying 1,000 registered voters between March 31 and April 3, showed Trump’s approval rating climbing to 53 percent. That marks a four-point rise from the previous week’s figure of 49 percent. The Daily Mail described the result as “surprising,” given the stock market dip and intense scrutiny following the April 2 rollout of broad tariffs affecting many trade partners.
The data also showed a sharp uptick in Trump’s popularity among younger voters. Support from the 18-to-29 age group jumped by 13 points since March 7. This builds on gains he made during the last presidential election, when the demographic shifted ten points in his favor after previously leaning toward Biden in 2020.
Additionally, the poll found Trump gaining ground among Democrats and independents, with a six-point boost, and his approval among Black voters surged by 17 points over the previous week.
Now nearly 100 days into his term, President Trump has earned high marks from business leaders and job market analysts, who see promise in his economic strategy—even if the benefits haven't yet materialized.
“I would give President Trump, right now, a pretty solid B+,” said TaChelle Lawson, founder of FIG Strategy & Consulting and a contributor to the Freedom Economy Index (FEI), in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“He came in with a very clear plan, and that was focusing on economics. He’s definitely putting business first, trimming the fat. That’s something that small business owners, business operators understand and respect. I think that it’s clear that his focus is on American business,” she continued. “I do, however, think that the messaging could use a little bit of work.”