Following through on earlier pronouncements, the Trump administration announced Thursday it will reopen ocean waters off the Pacific Coast to oil drilling leases, generating rapid opposition from California officials and environmentalists.
The announcement by the U.S. Department of the Interior called it an effort to address the nation’s “growing energy needs” and :boost United States energy independence and sustain domestic oil and gas production.”
The directive calls for the potential lease of 34 offshore drilling sites between 2026 and 2031 — 21 off the coast of Alaska, seven in the Gulf of America and six along the Pacific Coast.
“Offshore oil and gas production does not happen overnight. It takes years of planning, investment, and hard work before barrels reach the market,” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement. “The Biden
administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of America’s offshore production. By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that America’s offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come.”
According to the department, a 60 public-comment period on the proposal will begin when it is published in the Federal Register on Monday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom called the proposal “idiotic” and said it “endangers our coastal economy and communities and hurts the well-being of Californians.”
“This reckless attempt to sell out our coastline to his Big Oil donors is dead in the water,” Newsom said in a statement. “Californians remember the environmental and economic devastation of past oil spills. For decades, California has stood firm in our opposition to new offshore drilling, and nothing will change that. We will use every tool at our disposal to protect our coastline. It’s interesting that Donald’s proposal doesn’t include the waters off Mar-a-Lago.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta also blasted the proposal.
“Time and again, President Trump has shown that his interest lies with his Big Oil friends profiting at the expense of our environment and public health,” Bonta said in a statement. “California takes our responsibility to
steward our environment and natural resources seriously — we are not a rich man’s playground, and the president cannot come and extract resources as he pleases.
“California will not stand by while the Trump administration marches in and make a mess of our coastal towns and waterways in order to line the pockets of its wealthy friends. The livelihoods of millions of Californians
depend on the economies and industries supported by our coastal areas. My office stands fully opposed to this plan and is committed to protecting California’s natural resources.”
Orange County Coastkeeper also rejected the proposal.
“New drilling means more devastating oil spills,” Garry Brown, founder and president of Orange County Coastkeeper, said in a statement. “This is an intrinsically dangerous industry with a long record of catastrophic
failures, like the Refugio Santa Barbara spill in 2015 and the Amplify Huntington Beach spill in 2021. Our coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and local economies will pay the price while a single special interest reaps the benefits.
“This extreme drilling proposal is not in favor with California’s communities and voters,” he said. “Public polling shows broad bipartisan opposition to new offshore drilling because people across the political spectrum understand it’s wrong for the California coast. Offshore drilling devastates marine ecosystems, threatens coastal economies, and burdens taxpayers, with Californians gaining very little in return.”
Sean Bothwell, executive director of California Coastkeeper Alliance, said state residents “strongly oppose this plan, which threatens our waters, coastal ecosystems and the health of coastal communities and economies.”
“We urge Governor Newsom, along with state and federal leaders, to stand up to the Trump administration and protect California from this latest attack on our waters,” he said in a statement.
According to the Interior Department, as of Sept. 1, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management manages 2,073 active offshore oil and gas leases covering about 11.2 million acres and accounting for roughly 15% of the
nation’s domestic oil output. The Outer Continental Shelf is estimated to contain about 68.8 billion barrels of oil and 229 trillion cubic feet of natural gas yet to be discovered, according to the agency.
“Offshore oil and gas development requires long-term vision, steady policy, and the confidence for companies to invest in American energy. For years, that confidence was undercut by the Biden Administration’s failed
leasing policies,” Jarrod Agen, executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council, said in a statement.
“By putting a real leasing plan back on track, we’re restoring energy security, protecting American jobs, and
strengthening the nation*s ability to lead on energy for decades to come.”
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