11/16/2025
The Trump administration is advancing a plan to allow new oil and gas drilling off the California coast, despite strong opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom. The proposed plan includes six offshore lease sales between 2027 and 2030, with potential drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and other regions. Newsom has vowed to challenge the plan in court, calling it "dead on arrival."
California's coast has not seen new offshore drilling leases for decades due to environmental concerns and previous oil spills. The proposed drilling initiative is part of the Trump administration's broader push to boost U.S. energy production by opening previously restricted areas to fossil-fuel development. The plan aims to expand energy production and reduce reliance on foreign oil.
Environmental groups have voiced concerns about the potential impact on coastal economies and ecosystems. The Surfrider Foundation has warned that the move increases the likelihood of another destructive oil spill off the coast.
This development sets the stage for a potential legal and political showdown between the federal government and California, as the state fights to maintain its environmental protections while the Trump administration pushes for expanded drilling. The outcome will have significant implications for energy policy and environmental regulation in the U.S.