The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has unveiled a sweeping new offshore oil and gas leasing proposal aimed at replacing the restrictive Biden administration’s 2024–2029 program with a vastly expanded 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program by October 2026.
Under the new five-year plan, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) intends to offer up to 34 potential lease sales across 21 existing Outer Continental Shelf planning areas, covering approximately 5.1m sq km, including 21 areas off Alaska, seven in the Gulf of Mexico, and six along the Pacific coast.
“The Biden administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of America’s offshore production,” he said. “By moving forward with a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring America’s offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come,” said Doug Burgum, US secretary of the Interior.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration simultaneously announced plans to open new offshore drilling along the California and Florida coasts — areas long protected by moratoria. The proposed California sales, six lease auctions between 2027 and 2030, mark the first new federal leasing off the west coast in decades.
In the Gulf, drilling leases would be sold in the newly designated South-Central Gulf region, a move designed to sidestep Florida’s opposition to drilling near its coastline.
The five-year plan also entails more than 20 lease sales off the coast of Alaska, including a newly designated area known as the High Arctic, more than 200 miles offshore in the Arctic Ocean.
As of September 1, 2025, BOEM manages 2,073 active offshore oil and gas leases covering about 45,300 sq km. Offshore production accounts for roughly 15% of the nation’s domestic oil output. The Outer Continental Shelf is estimated to contain about 68.8bn boe and 229 tcf of natural gas yet to be discovered.
The expanded drillings have drawn sharp bipartisan backlash. California governor Gavin Newsom dismissed the plans as “idiotic” and vowed to fiercely oppose offshore drilling near the state’s coasts.
Florida officials voiced concern about threats to tourism and military operations, with Republican lawmakers urging the administration to pull parcels from leasing, warning of risks to coastal economies and ecosystems.
Environmental groups also raised alarms over potential damage to coastal communities and marine wildlife, specifically highlighting the Santa Barbara Channel’s importance as a whale feeding ground.
Before finalizing the 2026–2031 lease program, the DOI will begin a 60-day public comment process on November 24. Although there are still many political and environmental obstacles in the way, the administration hopes to overcome the previous administration’s narrow strategy by significantly expanding the amount of land available for lease.
