The administration proposed a plan to hold up to 34 offshore lease auctions between 2026 and 2031, including sales off California, Alaska and two in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The move is presented as a boost to jobs and U.S. energy security but reverses recent federal climate priorities and has drawn strong opposition from governors and coastal lawmakers. Critics warn of spill risks and potential harm to tourism and marine ecosystems.
White House Unveils Plan to Expand Offshore Drilling Off California and Florida
The administration proposed a plan to hold up to 34 offshore lease auctions between 2026 and 2031, including sales off California, Alaska and two in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The move is presented as a boost to jobs and U.S. energy security but reverses recent federal climate priorities and has drawn strong opposition from governors and coastal lawmakers. Critics warn of spill risks and potential harm to tourism and marine ecosystems.
07:33 AM, 11/21/2025Environment
The White House announced a proposal to open new offshore oil and gas lease areas off the coasts of California and Florida as part of a broader leasing timetable covering 2026–2031. The plan would include as many as 34 auction rounds, with sales proposed for California, Alaska and two in the eastern Gulf of Mexico — an area under a long-standing drilling moratorium.
Under the proposed schedule, up to six lease sales could be offered off California’s coast, up to 21 off Alaska — including at least one area never before offered — and two in the eastern Gulf. Federal protections have kept the eastern Gulf off-limits since 1995 amid concerns over spill risks and coastal impacts.
Policy context
Administration officials say the effort aims to boost domestic energy production, jobs and U.S. energy security. The move represents a broader shift away from recent federal climate and clean energy priorities: the administration has emphasized fossil-fuel production, established a National Energy Dominance Council, and taken steps that critics say have hampered some renewable projects and reduced green-energy funding.
Reactions and political stakes
The proposal immediately drew criticism from governors, coastal lawmakers and environmental advocates. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the expansion "dead on arrival," saying new offshore leasing would threaten coastal environments and local economies.
In Florida, opposition spans party lines because the state’s unspoiled beaches and clear waters support a tourism industry estimated at about $131 billion. Florida Republican senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody pushed in past years to keep the eastern Gulf protections in place and have co-sponsored legislation to preserve the ban. Scott said earlier this month:
"As Floridians, we know how vital our beautiful beaches and coastal waters are to our state’s economy, environment and way of life. I will always work to keep Florida’s shores pristine and protect our natural treasures for generations to come."
Environmental groups warn that new offshore drilling raises the risk of spills and long-term harms to fisheries, tourism and coastal ecosystems. Supporters counter that expanded leasing could create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign energy sources. The proposal sets the stage for legal challenges and a heated political debate ahead of the proposed auctions.