Biden’s Climate Orders Under Fire: Were They Signed Without His Knowledge?

A pro-energy watchdog, Power the Future, is sounding the alarm over a series of Biden administration climate policies, alleging they were signed by an autopen without former President Joe Biden’s public acknowledgment. These executive orders, which include a 2023 Arctic drilling ban, a 2021 net-zero emissions pledge for federal operations, a clean energy mandate for AI centers, and a last-minute offshore drilling ban in 2025, represent seismic shifts in U.S. energy policy. Yet, there’s no record of Biden discussing them, raising questions about whether he was even aware of these decisions.

Daniel Turner, the group’s founder, didn’t mince words: “These aren’t minor memos; they’re foundational changes to how America powers itself.” Power the Future has fired off letters to the DOJ, EPA, and congressional oversight committees, demanding a probe into who drafted and authorized these orders. They suspect a small circle of advisors may have used an autopen—a device that mechanically replicates a signature—to enact policies without Biden’s direct involvement.

The controversy ties into broader concerns about Biden’s mental sharpness in his final years in office, fueled by recent claims in the book Original Sin and reports of Biden forgetting key actions, like pausing LNG exports. While the autopen is legally permissible for signing bills, its use for major policy decisions has sparked debate, especially after former President Donald Trump labeled Biden’s autopen-signed pardons as “VOID.” Constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley, however, doubts legal challenges will succeed, noting courts don’t typically entertain conspiracy theories about presidential signatures.

Power the Future argues these policies, which funneled billions into green initiatives while restricting fossil fuel industries, demand transparency. “The American people deserve to know who was calling the shots,” Turner said, calling the situation a potential fraud on the nation.