House Approves Bill to Restrict Future Executive Bans on Oil Drilling Without Congressional Approval In a decisive move reflecting ongoing tensions over energy policy, the Republican-controlled House passed legislation 226–188 designed to limit the power of future presidents to prohibit oil and gas drilling without explicit authorization from Congress.

The measure, known as the “Protecting American Energy Production Act,” marks a significant pushback against unilateral executive actions that could restrict fossil fuel production in the United States.

The bill emerged amid growing concerns among lawmakers about the potential for future administrations to implement sweeping bans on oil and gas drilling. The legislation explicitly prohibits any president

from declaring a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing—commonly referred to as fracking—unless such a decision has been approved by Congress. This restriction is aimed at ensuring that any future bans on this controversial drilling method are subject to the deliberative process of Congress rather than being executed solely through executive fiat. Read more below