Why Trump’s Offshore Drilling Plan Is Alarming Coastal States

The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping proposal to restart offshore oil drilling along the coasts of California and Florida for the first time in decades, a major shift that reverses Biden-era climate policies and expands access to federal waters long shielded from development.

The plan is part of President Donald Trump’s broader push for U.S. “energy dominance,” reopening regions previously restricted due to spill risks, environmental concerns, and public opposition.

Federal officials say the move will boost domestic production and strengthen long-term energy security, while critics warn it threatens coastal economies that depend on clean beaches, tourism, and fishing.

The proposal includes multiple lease sales off California between 2027 and 2030, new drilling zones more than 100 miles off Florida’s Gulf Coast, and more than 20 lease sales across Alaska, including a newly defined “High Arctic” zone.

Republican leaders in Florida and Democratic leaders in California have voiced bipartisan resistance, citing memories of past disasters like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill and California’s 1969 catastrophe.

Environmental groups argue the risks are “unacceptable,” while industry advocates call the plan a historic opportunity to unlock new resources.