The Center for American Progress (CAP), the progressive group that initiated the 30×30 program, claims Joe Biden protected more lands and waters than the size of the Louisiana Purchase.
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson doubled the size of the United States when he purchased 530 million acres from France for $15 million. That was roughly 828,000 square miles that extended from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.
In January of this year, CAP claims Joe Biden “broke conservation records” when he “protected more lands and waters – 674 million acres – than any other president in history.”
That’s 22 percent more land than the entire Louisiana Purchase. He did it by protecting “15 new, expanded, and restored national monuments, adding up to nearly 9 million acres,” according to CAP.
He withdrew 28 million acres in Alaska alone that “withdrew oil, gas, and other extractive industries.” Other areas that prevented future oil and gas leasing came from withdrawing 625 million acres of U.S. coastlines, including three new national marine sanctuaries and six new wildlife refuges.
The Department of Interior alone funded more than $3 billion in projects. The bulk of funding for Biden’s 30×30 programs came from the Inflation Reduction Act, or what President Trump calls “the Green New Deal.”
As far as grants under the Inflation Reduction Act, 84% or $96.7 billion in clean energy IRA grants (solar and wind) were obligated as Biden left office — meaning contracts between U.S. agencies and grant recipients have been signed. An additional $11 billion has been announced publicly but not obligated, according to a Reuters story published January 2025.
President Trump and his administration have already ended much of Biden’s 30×30 initiative, but so many of these programs are embedded in federal agencies, it’s going to take a monumental effort to dig them out and roll back the green taking of America’s land.
You can read more here:
Biden protects 84% of IRA clean energy grants from being clawed back
The U.S. terminated its 30×30 conservation plan but this also presents an opportunity (commentary)
The Biden Administration Took Record-Breaking Conservation Action
