The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled a major expansion of offshore oil drilling, opening areas off the coasts of California and Florida for the first time in decades. The move is part of President Trump’s broader push to rapidly increase U.S. oil production and advance what he calls “energy dominance.”
The plan would authorize six offshore lease sales along the California coast and open new drilling areas in the Gulf of Mexico at least 100 miles off Florida’s shoreline. It also proposes more than 20 lease sales in Alaska, including a newly established zone in the High Arctic more than 200 miles offshore.
Environmental groups, coastal communities, and state leaders reacted swiftly. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared the proposal “dead on arrival,” arguing that expanded drilling threatens marine ecosystems, public safety, and coastal economies. In Florida, the proposal is expected to meet bipartisan resistance due to the state’s heavy reliance on tourism and clean beaches.
Since taking office for a second term, President Trump has reversed many of Joe Biden’s climate and renewable-energy policies. His administration has blocked offshore wind projects, cut funding for clean energy initiatives, and created a National Energy Dominance Council tasked with speeding up fossil fuel development. Trump recently described climate change as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”
Opponents warn that the proposal increases the risk of catastrophic spills. Critics point to previous offshore accidents, including a 2015 spill near Santa Barbara, where a Texas-based company is now seeking to restart production with federal approval. Environmental advocates argue the new plan endangers livelihoods and could leave long-lasting damage to coastlines.
Joseph Gordon, campaign director for the group Oceana, called the proposal “an oil spill nightmare,” saying that coastal communities depend on healthy oceans for both economic security and quality of life. He urged the administration to safeguard coastal regions rather than open them to further drilling.