The Trump administration has announced a major plan to expand oil and gas drilling in U.S. offshore waters, including areas off California’s coast. This move is part of former President Donald Trump’s push to boost domestic fossil fuel production. The announcement quickly drew sharp criticism from California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, who opposes any drilling along the state’s famous shoreline.
The plan calls for 21 lease sales off Alaska starting next year, seven in the Gulf of Mexico, and six along the California coast in the Pacific Ocean. This is notable since the U.S. has not auctioned new drilling rights in the Pacific since 1984. California, known for its strong climate policies, has long resisted offshore energy projects, and a 1969 oil spill near Santa Barbara remains a powerful reminder of the risks.
The proposal also raises the possibility of leasing in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, an area that has been off-limits due to military use. The Interior Department may consider sales there in 2029 and 2030, but the region remains protected through 2032. Florida officials have opposed changing this policy.
Right now, offshore oil and gas production accounts for 14% of U.S. oil output and 2% of natural gas, mostly from the Gulf of Mexico. In the Pacific, production is minimal—just 0.1% of U.S. oil output.
If the plan goes forward, it would replace the previous leasing schedule set under President Joe Biden’s administration, which only included three Gulf of Mexico sales. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the new plan aims to keep the offshore energy industry strong and maintain U.S. energy dominance. Industry groups welcomed the move, calling the old leasing program insufficient.
But conservation groups and California officials were quick to condemn the proposal. Governor Newsom called the plan reckless and said it would harm California’s economy and communities. Environmental groups warned that expanding offshore drilling could lead to disastrous oil spills.
The plan does not include any new drilling in the Atlantic Ocean, where governors from South Carolina and North Carolina had asked to be excluded.
Federal waters begin about three nautical miles from shore and extend roughly 200 miles out. This plan seeks to open much of that space to new oil and gas development, sparking a heated debate between energy interests and environmental advocates.