Offshore Drilling

The Trump administration released a draft plan to offer up to 34 offshore lease sales across roughly 1.27 billion acres in Alaska, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific between 2026 and 2031, effectively replacing the Biden-era offshore program. Draft timing would begin Alaska auctions in 2026 — including more than 20 sales and a newly designated "High Arctic" area more than 200 miles offshore — California sales starting in 2027 (six auctions proposed through 2030), eastern Gulf bidding in 2029 and expanded western/central Gulf offerings, with Florida leases at least 100 miles offshore adjacent to the central Gulf; Interior Secretary Doug Burgum framed the move as protecting jobs and U.S. energy dominance while governors, environmental groups and some lawmakers vowed legal and political fights even as industry groups praised the proposal.