Trump Administration Proposes Major Expansion of Offshore Oil Drilling Along West Coast and Arctic Regions

Environmental groups are poised to challenge the newly proposed offshore drilling plan.

On Thursday, the Trump administration unveiled a draft blueprint proposing significant expansion of offshore crude drilling, including new areas along the West Coast and in the Arctic region. The comprehensive plan would substantially increase the availability of offshore oil and natural gas rights.

The Interior Department has outlined a total of 34 potential offshore lease sales, comprising 21 off Alaska's coast, six along the Pacific Coast, and seven in what President Donald Trump has renamed the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico).

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated, "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."

This proposal aims to replace the Biden administration's limited plan that included just three auctions scheduled between 2024 and 2029. The current draft represents an initial step that will likely undergo modifications during several months of public comment periods and additional reviews before finalization. Prior to its release, Trump administration officials already removed East Coast drilling rights sales after a leaked version prompted concerns from Republican representatives in southeastern states who oppose Atlantic drilling.

Nevertheless, the extensive proposal developed by the Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management clearly reflects Trump's commitment to expanding domestic energy production. The plan includes lease sales in Alaska's Beaufort Sea, Cook Inlet, and Chukchi Sea, as well as—for the first time—the high Arctic region, situated approximately 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Alaska's coast, an area that opponents argue is particularly environmentally sensitive.

At 2:54 pm in New York, an index of oilfield contractors that includes major offshore drilling companies such as Transocean Ltd. showed a 2.6% decline, extending the 12-month drop to 12%. Drilling stocks have been experiencing pressure as anticipated global crude oversupply continues to affect oil prices.

Industry advocates emphasized that the broad scope of the initial proposal is important because the plan will likely be reduced as it progresses toward finalization.

"This a large, cast-a-wide-net step in the process," explained Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association. "This is not the final step and it's important to keep as much on the table as possible."

The proposal is expected to face strong opposition from environmental organizations and West Coast legislators. California Governor Gavin Newsom has already declared the plan to sell new oil drilling rights off the West Coast "dead on arrival."

Joseph Gordon, a campaign director at the environmental group Oceana, expressed concern: "The last thing America needs now is a massive expansion of offshore drilling that could shut down our shores with catastrophic oil spills. This dangerous proposal to sell off millions of acres of our oceans is a betrayal of the bipartisan voices - including US lawmakers, business leaders, and the people who live along the coasts - who oppose more offshore drilling."