Trump Approves New Offshore Oil Drilling in California and Florida/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Trump administration has approved new offshore oil drilling near California and Florida for the first time in decades. The decision, part of Trump’s renewed energy dominance agenda, faces sharp criticism from environmentalists, lawmakers, and state officials. The plan also includes expanded drilling in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.
Offshore Drilling Expansion Plan + Quick Looks
- Trump administration greenlights new offshore drilling near California and Florida.
- First federal oil leases off California coast since the 1980s.
- Florida drilling to take place at least 100 miles offshore in the Gulf.
- Over 20 new leases proposed in Alaska, including remote Arctic waters.
- Trump seeks to reverse Biden-era clean energy efforts.
- Governors of California and Florida oppose the plan.
- Environmental groups warn of ecosystem and economic risks.
- Lawmakers raise concerns over military interference in Florida.
Trump Approves New Offshore Oil Drilling in California and Florida
Deep Look
In a sweeping new move to expand domestic fossil fuel production, the Trump administration has announced plans for new offshore oil drilling along the coasts of California and Florida—the first such leases offered in decades. The plan, unveiled Thursday, is part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to boost U.S. “energy dominance,” while reversing many of the climate-focused policies enacted during President Joe Biden’s term.
The administration’s announcement details a five-year plan that will open areas in the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Arctic Ocean to oil leasing. Specifically, six lease sales are proposed between 2027 and 2030 along the California coastline, an area where new federal offshore drilling has been prohibited since the mid-1980s. Additional drilling leases will be offered in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida, at least 100 miles from shore, and in a newly designated “South-Central Gulf” region to avoid encroaching on the Eastern Gulf’s protected zone.
Florida’s eastern Gulf waters have been under a moratorium since 1995, and President Trump extended that moratorium during his first term. This latest move carves out a new zone to ease political pressure while still tapping into offshore oil potential. However, even with the 100-mile buffer, backlash was swift.
In California, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the plan as “idiotic,” vowing to use every available legal and regulatory tool to block the drilling. Newsom pointed to California’s history of devastating oil spills, such as the 1969 Santa Barbara disaster and a more recent 2021 spill near Huntington Beach, as reasons to maintain the state’s opposition.
Florida officials—both Republican and Democratic—also pushed back. Republican Senator Rick Scott, who helped halt a similar plan in 2018 when he was governor, reiterated his opposition and introduced legislation alongside state officials to maintain Florida’s drilling moratorium. A spokesperson for current Governor Ron DeSantis stated the administration “should reconsider.”
Environmental and economic concerns form the backbone of the opposition. Coastal tourism, fishing, and clean water access are vital to both states’ economies, and any potential spill—such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon catastrophe—would threaten those sectors.
Lawmakers also flagged national security concerns. A group of Florida Republicans, led by Rep. Jimmy Patronis, warned that oil exploration near military airbases could disrupt weapons testing and training operations. “Drilling in these parcels would chill the military’s ability to test hypersonic and counter-drone weapons,” the group said in a letter to the administration.
Further north, the proposal includes more than 20 lease sales off Alaska’s coast. That includes drilling in the High Arctic, a remote section of the Arctic Ocean over 200 miles offshore. While the region promises untapped energy reserves, environmentalists argue it presents catastrophic risk to wildlife, including endangered species like polar bears and whales.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the move, stating it ensures the long-term strength of the American offshore industry and the nation’s energy supply.
“It will take years to get this oil to market,” Burgum acknowledged, but emphasized that laying the groundwork now is critical.
Industry leaders celebrated the decision. The American Petroleum Institute called it a “historic step” toward unlocking domestic offshore resources. They argue that states like California already possess infrastructure for expanded production and can benefit economically from new drilling activity.
Still, the political and environmental blowback continues to mount. U.S. Representative Jared Huffman of California described the plan as a Big Oil wish list: “This is not just a little offshore drilling. It’s the entire California coast, every inch of Alaska, even the eastern Gulf of Mexico.”
Maggie Hall, deputy chief counsel for the Environmental Defense Center, underscored the dangers to marine life, particularly in areas like the Santa Barbara Channel.
“There is no way to drill for oil without devastating impacts,” she said. “The risk is unacceptable.”
This offshore push also fits within a larger rollback of Biden-era green energy policies. Since returning to office, Trump has canceled grants for renewable energy initiatives and blocked offshore wind projects. He signed an executive order reversing Biden’s ban on future oil drilling along the East and West Coasts, a move later backed by a federal court decision.
Adding to the tension is Trump’s public dismissal of climate change, calling it “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” His administration has formed a National Energy Dominance Council tasked with fast-tracking fossil fuel development, including oil, coal, and natural gas.
For Trump and his supporters, the plan marks a win for energy independence and economic growth. But for many coastal communities, environmental advocates, and bipartisan lawmakers, the renewed focus on offshore drilling represents a step backward—and a threat to both ecosystems and livelihoods.
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