Administration Proposes Major Expansion of Offshore Drilling Off California, Florida and Alaska

Overview

The administration unveiled a proposal to open new areas for offshore oil leasing off the coasts of California and Florida — the first significant expansion in decades — as part of a broader five-year offshore leasing program that also calls for more than 20 lease sales off Alaska, including a newly designated "High Arctic" zone more than 200 miles offshore.

What the plan would do

The plan outlines six planned lease sales off California and proposes new lease offerings at least 100 miles off Florida's coastline, adjacent to parts of the Central Gulf of Mexico that already contain extensive oil development. The five-year program would also compel numerous lease sales off Alaska, including in an area identified as the High Arctic.

Support and rationale

Energy industry groups and some administration officials argue the expansion will boost domestic energy production, create jobs and increase federal revenue. In public statements, industry trade groups urged that all offshore areas capable of producing energy, jobs and revenue be considered to help strengthen U.S. energy supplies.

Opposition and concerns

The proposal has drawn immediate opposition from a broad coalition of elected officials, environmental groups and coastal businesses. California Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the plan as a threat to coastal economies and communities, calling it "dead on arrival" in social media remarks. Democratic lawmakers from California warned that opening wide stretches of coastline to new drilling would risk coastal economies, ecosystems and public health. Environmental groups described the expansion as dangerous and unnecessary.

Sen. Rick Scott and other Florida officials have also pushed back, citing the importance of beaches and tourism. Scott co-sponsored recent legislation aimed at preserving a state moratorium on offshore drilling.

Context and policy shifts

The move follows the administration's policy shift away from the previous presidential focus on limiting offshore drilling. An executive order signed on the first day of the administration reversed an earlier ban on future offshore drilling on the East and West coasts; a federal court later vacated a prior order that had withdrawn roughly 625 million acres of federal waters from oil development. The administration has also taken steps restricting some renewable projects, including offshore wind, and has canceled grants tied to clean-energy projects.

Notable projects and local impacts

The administration has pointed to specific projects, including an effort by Sable Offshore Corp., a Houston-based company, to restart production in waters near Santa Barbara that were impacted by a 2015 spill. Supporters say such projects demonstrate how regulatory changes can revive domestic production. Critics counter that new leasing increases the risk of spills that can cause long-term environmental and economic damage, depress coastal property values and harm tourism-based economies.

Potential timeline

Officials have indicated that some Alaska lease sales could occur as soon as next year, while California sales might be scheduled in later years of the five-year cycle. The final timing will depend on regulatory review and legal challenges that are likely to follow.

Bottom line: The proposal elevates offshore drilling on the national agenda, intensifying debates over energy security, local economies, environmental protection and the balance between fossil fuel development and renewable energy goals.