Trump Announces Bold Plan to Open Nearly Entire US Coastline for Oil Drilling
According to Bloomberg, President Donald Trump’s administration has prepared a comprehensive proposal aiming to open almost all U.S.
coastal waters for extensive offshore oil development.
The documents obtained by sources indicate that the plan involves granting access to oil extraction in regions along the East and West Coasts, around Alaska, and in the Gulf of Mexico.
This initiative has sparked significant opposition from environmental groups, which warn of potential ecological damage and threats to tourism-dependent regions, especially in the southeastern states.
Notably, during his 2016 campaign, Trump promised to protect those coastal zones from drilling, aligning his stance with concerns from Republican allies worried about risks to the tourism industry.
A spokesperson for the Department of Interior declined to comment on specific details but noted that the nation is facing an energy emergency, and all options, including advancements in artificial intelligence technologies, are being considered to address the crisis and compete with China.
Multiple states, including New York, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina, have officially voiced their opposition to the plans.
West Coast states such as California, Oregon, and Washington have also united against the proposal.
Although the oil industry shows cautious interest in exploring new reserves beyond the Gulf of Mexico, its enthusiasm remains subdued due to political opposition and geological uncertainties, as most data on potential reserves along the eastern coast date back to the 1970s and 1980s.
The proposed plan will serve as the initial step toward developing a new five-year license sale program for offshore extraction, set to occur between 2026 and 2031.
If approved, it will replace a much more limited plan by the Biden administration, which scheduled only three auction rounds by 2029.
However, the initiative faces resistance from various states—especially on the eastern seaboard and the West Coast—raising doubts about its immediate realization amidst ongoing political debates.