Overview
- Interior released a draft 2026–2032 offshore program proposing up to 34 lease sales across roughly 1.27 billion acres in 21 of 27 Outer Continental Shelf planning areas.
- The plan outlines six sales off California between 2027 and 2030, two new auctions in Gulf waters at least 100 miles off Florida, and more than 20 sales off Alaska including a newly designated High Arctic zone.
- Environmental groups filed suit in D.C. federal court to block a Dec. 10 Gulf lease sale, alleging the administration bypassed required NEPA analysis; Interior previously said it would forgo NEPA for mandated sales.
- California leaders including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta pledged legal resistance, and Florida Republicans such as Sen. Rick Scott voiced opposition to drilling near the state’s shores.
- Industry groups including API and NOIA praised the draft as supporting jobs and energy supply, while BOEM said the 60-day public comment period will begin when the plan is published in the Federal Register.