Focus on the BIG picture.
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026
Outside the box.
Trump Administration Proposes Opening California Coast to Offshore Oil Drilling in Major Federal Plan
Draft lease sales off the Pacific would mark the first new offshore oil and gas expansion in California waters in decades under a broader offshore leasing regime
The Trump administration has unveiled a draft proposal to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the United States’ Pacific Coast, including extensive lease sales off California, as part of a sweeping federal offshore energy plan.
The draft programme, released by the Department of the Interior, would open vast areas of federal waters off the California coast to potential lease auctions between 2027 and 2030 — a move not seen since the 1980s — as well as additional lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska.
This proposal represents a significant shift in federal energy policy, with officials arguing it will enhance domestic energy production and bolster American energy security while critics warn it threatens coastal environments and longstanding state opposition.
Under the draft framework for the 2026–2031 offshore oil and gas leasing programme, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has identified up to six potential lease sales off the Pacific Coast, scheduled over the next several years.
Supporters within the administration assert that expanding access to federal offshore resources is vital to meeting national energy demands, supporting oil and gas industry jobs and reducing dependence on foreign energy suppliers.
Interior officials have framed the plan as a component of broader efforts to “restore energy dominance” by fully utilising U.S. resources, a central objective of President Donald Trump’s energy strategy.
The proposal has triggered immediate pushback from California political leaders, environmental groups and coastal communities, who emphasise the risks of oil spills, disruption to marine ecosystems and conflict with the state’s ambitious climate and clean energy goals.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has labelled the initiative “dead on arrival” and pledged to use legal and regulatory tools to resist any attempt to drill off the state’s coast, underscoring sharp policy divisions between state and federal authorities.
Critics also note that California has pursued clean energy and emission reduction targets that contrast sharply with federal efforts to expand fossil fuel development.
The draft programme is currently subject to public comment and review processes, with additional analysis and environmental assessments planned before any final lease sales are approved.
As the debate unfolds, the proposal is shaping up to be a defining flashpoint in national discussions over energy policy, climate commitments and states’ rights in managing coastal resources.
The draft programme, released by the Department of the Interior, would open vast areas of federal waters off the California coast to potential lease auctions between 2027 and 2030 — a move not seen since the 1980s — as well as additional lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off Alaska.
This proposal represents a significant shift in federal energy policy, with officials arguing it will enhance domestic energy production and bolster American energy security while critics warn it threatens coastal environments and longstanding state opposition.
Under the draft framework for the 2026–2031 offshore oil and gas leasing programme, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has identified up to six potential lease sales off the Pacific Coast, scheduled over the next several years.
Supporters within the administration assert that expanding access to federal offshore resources is vital to meeting national energy demands, supporting oil and gas industry jobs and reducing dependence on foreign energy suppliers.
Interior officials have framed the plan as a component of broader efforts to “restore energy dominance” by fully utilising U.S. resources, a central objective of President Donald Trump’s energy strategy.
The proposal has triggered immediate pushback from California political leaders, environmental groups and coastal communities, who emphasise the risks of oil spills, disruption to marine ecosystems and conflict with the state’s ambitious climate and clean energy goals.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has labelled the initiative “dead on arrival” and pledged to use legal and regulatory tools to resist any attempt to drill off the state’s coast, underscoring sharp policy divisions between state and federal authorities.
Critics also note that California has pursued clean energy and emission reduction targets that contrast sharply with federal efforts to expand fossil fuel development.
The draft programme is currently subject to public comment and review processes, with additional analysis and environmental assessments planned before any final lease sales are approved.
As the debate unfolds, the proposal is shaping up to be a defining flashpoint in national discussions over energy policy, climate commitments and states’ rights in managing coastal resources.
