LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump has unveiled a sweeping plan to open large areas of federal waters off Florida and California to offshore oil drilling. The move breaks decades of precedent and sets up major political battles with leaders in both states. The proposal is part of Trump’s broader push to expand fossil fuel production and advance his “drill, baby, drill” agenda.
The Interior Department released a new five-year offshore drilling plan that targets federal waters along California’s entire coastline. California has not seen new offshore drilling since the late 1960s. A 1969 spill near Santa Barbara devastated marine life and helped spark the modern environmental movement.
The plan also opens areas of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico to new drilling. Those waters sit roughly 100 nautical miles off Florida’s west coast. Florida has blocked new offshore drilling for decades. The policy shift marks a sharp break from Trump’s first term, when he extended the drilling ban in the Eastern Gulf under pressure from Florida Republicans.
Under the new proposal, oil lease sales in the Eastern Gulf would start in 2029. The central and southern California lease sales would begin in 2027, followed by northern California in 2029.
The proposed expansion has ignited intense opposition from leaders in both states. Florida officials remain wary after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill, which caused massive environmental and economic damage. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said it still supports the Eastern Gulf drilling ban and urged the Interior Department to reverse course.
Several Florida Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Trump asking him to withdraw the Gulf parcels. They argued that oil exploration would disrupt military operations and harm tourism.
California leaders also promised a fierce fight. Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the plan as “idiotic” and said the state will use every tool possible to stop new drilling off its coast. California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said it is exploring legal options. Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Jared Huffman warned that the state will not “roll over.”
Oil industry groups welcomed the new leasing plan. The National Ocean Industries Association called the Eastern Gulf opening a “forward-looking approach.” The American Petroleum Institute said the proposal is a historic step toward expanding U.S. energy production.
Industry experts say drilling will not surge immediately. Oil prices remain relatively low, and companies are cautious about spending. Tom Seng, an energy finance professor at Texas Christian University, said firms may buy leases now but wait years before drilling.
Environmental advocates say the plan threatens marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Oceana called it an “oil spill nightmare” and warned of catastrophic harm if another major spill occurs.
The drilling proposal comes as the Trump administration rolls back several environmental protections. This week, the Interior Department reversed a Biden-era rule that restricted drilling in nearly half of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve. At the same time, ConocoPhillips has proposed new exploratory drilling in Alaska’s Western Arctic, where the company plans to begin producing oil from the massive Willow project in 2029.
Earthjustice warned that new seismic testing and drilling could cause long-lasting damage to fragile Arctic ecosystems.
The offshore drilling plan sets up a long regulatory and legal fight. Florida and California leaders say the proposal threatens their economies, wildlife, and coastlines. The oil industry argues it will strengthen U.S. energy security. The debate will likely intensify as the administration moves forward with lease sales and environmental reviews.
