Trump administration releases its expanded oil and gas drilling plan

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Californians already were gearing up for battle even before the Trump administration released a draft plan on Nov. 20 that proposes a broad expansion of oil and gas drilling and lease sales along America's coasts, including California, Alaska and Florida.

The administration announced as many as 34 potential offshore lease sales across 21 of 27 existing Outer Continental Shelf planning areas, covering roughly 1.27 billion acres. That includes 21 areas off the coast of Alaska, seven in the Gulf of America, and six along the Pacific coast.

As soon as the plan dropped on the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 20, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement that his office fully opposes the plan.

"California takes our responsibility to steward our environment and natural resources seriously — we are not a rich man’s playground, and the President cannot come and extract resources as he pleases," Bonta said. "California will not stand by while the Trump Administration marches in and make a mess of our coastal towns and waterways in order to line the pockets of its wealthy friends."

The plan is expected to draw widespread opposition from state leaders, lawmakers and environmental groups. When early details were leaked in November, California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on his social media that any plan to expand drilling or sell leases off California would be "dead on arrival."

In California, multiple municipalities and environmental organizations also will be ready with lawsuits in tow, said Prof. Richard Frank, director of the California Environmental Law and Policy Center at the University of California, Davis.

"There is a widespread, bipartisan consensus in the state against offshore drilling if the Trump administration attempts to pursue," Frank told USA TODAY. "It would be quite the battle."

Burgum's order implements provisions of President Donald Trump's executive order earlier this year "Unleashing American Energy" and implements provisions of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act."

In a quick summary of the plan, Earthjustice said it proposes drilling off California for the first time since 1984, with six offshore lease sales between 2027 and 2030, drilling in the eastern Gulf of America and "every available offshore area in Alaska, including the High Arctic, which stretches 200 miles into the Arctic Ocean, with over 20 lease sales through 2031.

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Earlier in the fall, the administration announced plans to expand drilling in the Alaskan wilderness.

The news release from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum attacked the Biden administration, with the news release saying the new proposal replaces the "smallest offshore leasing plan ever published by an administration with one that fully addresses the nation’s growing energy needs."

"The Biden administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of America’s offshore production," Burgum stated. "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."

The department describes its 2026-2032 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program as a "major step to boost United States energy independence and sustain domestic oil and gas production."

In a statement, Earthjustice senior attorney Brettny Hardy said the administration "is threatening to impose offshore oil drilling on states, cities, and communities that have fought against it for decades."

"Trump’s plan would risk the health and well-being of millions of people who live along our coasts. It would also devastate countless ocean ecosystems that both humans and wildlife rely on," Hardy stated. "This administration continues to put the oil industry above people, our shared environment, and the law."

The oil and gas industry has previously pledged support for the administration's plan, urging in a June 2025 letter that all areas be considered that have the potential to generate jobs, revenue and "advance America’s energy dominance."

Widespread opposition is expected from additional environmental groups who fear the damage that could occur by opening drilling in new areas, and from organizations that have supported a push for cleaner energy to curb climate warming, made worse by greenhouse gas emissions.

In October, a group of more than 100 lawmakers demanded Trump and Burgum cease "any plans to open new offshore oil and gas leases in U.S. federal waters." USA TODAY has reached out to Jared Huffman, D-California, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee for comment.

Florida's Senators also have voiced early opposition. Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Florida, sponsored a bill earlier this year to prohibit oil drilling and natural gas exploration and development near Florida’s coastline and extend an existing drilling moratorium that includes Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, to 2032.

Almost 70% of California’s nearly 40 million residents live near coastal waters, further strengthening the offshore drilling apprehension, Frank said.