The Trump administration unveiled plans Thursday for expanding offshore oil and gas drilling in US waters, proposing up to 34 lease sales covering approximately 1.27 billion acres through 2031.
The Interior Department issued a directive ordering the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to terminate the "restrictive Biden 2024-2029" offshore leasing program and replace it with a new, expansive program by October 2026.
The proposal targets 34 potential offshore lease sales, including 21 areas off Alaska's coast, seven in the Gulf of Mexico, which the administration calls the Gulf of America, and six along California's Pacific coast.
California would see six offshore lease sales between 2027 and 2030, while the eastern Gulf would host sales in 2029 and 2030. Alaska's offshore areas, including the High Arctic extending into the Arctic Ocean, would see more than 20 lease sales through 2031.
The Interior Department also created a new administrative planning area called the South-Central Gulf of America.
BOEM manages 2,073 active offshore leases covering about 11.2 million acres. Offshore production accounts for 15% of US domestic oil output.
The Outer Continental Shelf contains 68.8 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 229 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to US estimates.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a vocal opponent of US President Donald Trump, declared the proposal "dead on arrival" in his state, signaling strong resistance to offshore drilling expansion.
The action implements Trump's first-day Executive Order 14154, "Unleashing American Energy."
The agency said the announcement represents the first of three proposals to be developed before final approval of the 2026-2031 program, and there is no guarantee that a planning area included in the proposal will be included in the final program or offered for leasing.
It noted that each lease sale will also undergo additional review, environmental analysis and public comment.
By Yasin Gungor
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr