Trump Dismantles Biden-Harris Agenda With New Executive Orders

President Donald Trump is countering former President Joe Biden’s progressive “climate” agenda by issuing a series of executive orders aimed at boosting domestic fossil fuel energy production.
These executive orders include the declaration of an “energy emergency,” designed to shield the administration from certain legal challenges targeting new drilling and other energy-related projects.
The scope of these actions could represent the most significant shift in U.S. energy policy since the 1973 response to the oil export embargo imposed by Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Upon taking office, President Biden signed several executive orders, notably rejoining the Paris Agreement—a nonbinding global pact designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions and prevent global temperatures from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Biden’s climate policies evolved over the following years through numerous regulatory measures. These included stricter appliance efficiency standards, halting liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits, and introducing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations targeting power plants.
Trump’s “energy emergency” strategy prioritizes mining critical minerals essential for national security, granting emergency approvals for energy production on public lands, and expediting the development of energy infrastructure. A separate executive order outlines specific measures for advancing energy resource development in Alaska.
Another directive seeks to revitalize offshore drilling efforts, reversing one of Biden’s last anti-fossil-fuel policies. This order also nullifies several climate-related executive actions implemented during Biden’s tenure. Furthermore, Trump officially withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement.
Jeff Reynolds, senior editor at Restoration News, suggested Trump’s bold rejection of Biden’s climate policies reflects lessons learned from his first term. Reynolds noted that while Trump previously understood the importance of energy and a supportive regulatory framework, his initial approach was more restrained.
“Now he knows where the bodies are buried, and he’s ready to take a meat axe to everything that got in his way the first time,” Reynolds told Just the News.
Trump’s wave of pro-fossil fuel orders demonstrates his commitment to the “drill, baby drill” campaign slogan. However, energy expert David Blackmon, author of the “Energy Absurdities” Substack, told Just the News that a significant increase in U.S. production is unlikely.
Robert Rapier, a chemical engineer and editor-in-chief of Shale Magazine, echoed this sentiment, explaining that low gas prices do not incentivize increased production. Oil prices, which hovered near $70 per barrel throughout September, are insufficient to prompt oil companies to invest in expansion.
While prices have slightly risen above $70 per barrel since the start of the year, Rapier noted that sustained high prices would be required before producers ramp up output. The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts only modest growth in production relative to consumption, with prices expected to remain relatively low through 2026.
Trump’s “energy emergency” initiative also faces significant legal hurdles. Environmental organizations, such as EarthJustice—known for their motto, “Earth needs a good lawyer”—have already condemned the executive orders and are expected to mount substantial legal challenges.
Blackmon believes that Trump’s approach will focus on infrastructure investments rather than a massive drilling expansion.
“I don’t think we’re going to see a big drilling boom. I think it’s going to be more of a ‘build, baby build’ boom. We need a significant amount of additional natural gas pipeline capacity, including new LNG export facilities and the infrastructure that supplies them,” Blackmon told Just the News.