The Interior Department on Thursday outlined an aggressive offshore leasing plan that would open as many as 34 oil and gas lease sales between 2026 and 2031, including seven in the Gulf.
The proposal—part of President Trump’s broader push to restore “energy dominance”—would replace the Biden-era five-year program and expand leasing across 21 of 27 Outer Continental Shelf planning areas.
The plan includes sales off Alaska, in the Gulf, and off the Pacific coast, though none in the Atlantic. Interior officials say the policy is intended to boost domestic production, stabilize long-term supply and strengthen U.S. energy independence.
The proposal also includes Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s decision to create a new administrative planning area, the South-Central Gulf.
“Offshore oil and gas development requires long-term vision, steady policy and the confidence for companies to invest in American energy. For years, that confidence was undercut by the Biden administration’s failed leasing policies,” said Jarrod Agen, executive director of the National Energy Dominance Council, in a prepared statement. “By putting a real leasing plan back on track, we’re restoring energy security, protecting American jobs, and strengthening the nation’s ability to lead on energy for decades to come.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management estimates current offshore operations account for about 15% of U.S. crude output.
The move is expected to reignite political conflict, particularly with California, where leaders have vowed to block new offshore drilling. The Interior Department will open a 60-day public comment period before finalizing the program.
