Trump inflames California over oil drilling plan for Pacific coast
California Governor Newsom vows to fight ‘idiotic’ move, which reverses decades of federal protection of the world-famous coastline
US President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday unveiled a plan for a dramatic expansion of oil and gas drilling rights auctions in US waters, including in California, where state officials strongly oppose energy development along its world-famous coastline.
The Interior Department proposal is aligned with Trump’s energy dominance agenda to supercharge domestic fossil fuel production. It immediately set off a fresh conflict with California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is among the president’s harshest critics.
The plan contemplates 21 sales off the coast of Alaska starting next year, seven in the Gulf of Mexico and six in the Pacific Ocean from northern to southern California.
The proposal also opens the door to future leasing in the eastern portion of the Gulf of Mexico, which has long been protected from energy development because it is used for military testing and training. Florida officials have opposed changes to that policy.
A schedule in the plan includes two potential lease sales there in 2029 and 2030, but also says the area was withdrawn from leasing consideration through 2032. The plan will allow the Interior Department to analyse the area for possible future leasing, according to the document.
Oil and gas leases in federal waters accounted for 14 per cent of US oil production and 2 per cent of domestic natural gas production in fiscal 2024, according to federal data. The vast majority of that output is from leases in the Gulf of Mexico.
