Trump Administration Plans to Expand Offshore Drilling in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico

(New Orleans, LA, November 20, 2025) – The Trump Administration announced today its new federal offshore drilling plan to open more oil and gas drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf across the Gulf of Mexico and other sensitive waters across America. The plan calls for a staggering 34 lease sales for oil and gas over five years, and would bring drilling into the eastern Gulf near Florida where it has never been allowed before. This expansion toward Florida reneges on President Trump’s 2020 pledge and executive memorandum to protect Florida from drilling through 2032.

This plan will offer a 60-day public comment period starting November 24, but as of now, no public hearings have been scheduled. It is vital that residents and businesses across the Gulf region be allowed to meet directly with federal officials proposing this plan.

The Administration has already announced its plans to open 80 million acres of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico through lease sales scheduled for December 10th. Healthy Gulf is challenging these sales through a lawsuit with other conservation organizations.

“Our country continues to use the Gulf of Mexico as a sacrifice zone to the oil and gas industry.  The Trump Administration’s plan to open areas in the eastern Gulf off of Florida, which have been protected under previous moratoriums, is reckless and dangerous for our working waterfronts, endangered species, and vital tourism,” said Martha Collins, Executive Director for Healthy Gulf. “Our communities, our visitors, and our wildlife in Florida do not deserve the history of neglect that the oil and gas industry has left in the Gulf.”

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Contact Personnel

Communications Director, Alex Horn, alex@healthygulf.org, 504-532-7065

Florida-Alabama Coastal Organizer, Christian Wagley, christian@healthygulf.org, 504-519-0839

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