The Trump administration is preparing to propose new oil and gas drilling off the California coast for the first time in approximately 40 years, a move that is anticipated to create a confrontation with California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has actively opposed offshore drilling. Governor Newsom is currently attending the United Nations climate summit in Brazil, where he contrasts his environmental stance with President Trump's approach to climate change.

Sources indicate that the U.S. Department of the Interior may announce this proposal imminently. Since the catastrophic oil spill near Santa Barbara in 1969, which had severe environmental repercussions and catalyzed the national environmental movement, fossil fuel development along the California coast has been largely restricted. Drilling has been prohibited in California state waters, which extend three miles from the shore, and there has been no new leasing in federal waters off California since the mid-1980s.

The proposed plan also includes new oil and gas leasing in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which President Trump refers to as the Gulf of America. This aspect may face opposition from Florida Republicans, who have historically resisted new drilling in the region following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that significantly impacted Florida's tourism sector.

The lease sales in the Pacific Ocean would primarily target areas off Santa Barbara County, where limited drilling is already taking place. The Texas-based company Sable Offshore is seeking to reactivate three drilling rigs in federal waters off Santa Barbara, which have been inactive since a 2015 oil spill. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against Sable Offshore for allegedly discharging waste into local waterways. Governor Newsom has reiterated the state's opposition to further fossil fuel development, citing risks to coastal communities and economic stability.

Analysts suggest that oil and gas companies may show limited interest in expanding drilling off California, with more focus likely on the Gulf of Mexico, where existing infrastructure supports operations. The U.S. offshore oil industry currently produces around 1.8 million barrels of oil per day, predominantly from the Gulf region.

The Trump administration's tax and spending bill, enacted in July, mandates at least 36 oil and gas lease sales in federal waters, including 30 in the Gulf and six in Cook Inlet, Alaska. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953 requires the government to update its offshore oil and gas leasing plan every five years. The most recent plan, finalized by the Biden administration, offered the fewest offshore oil and gas leases in U.S. history, emphasizing the need to address climate change by reducing fossil fuel development and promoting renewable energy.

In contrast, President Trump has pursued policies aimed at increasing fossil fuel production. The finalization of the new drilling proposal could take at least a year, during which environmental groups may challenge it legally. Conservation organizations have expressed strong opposition to any expansion of offshore drilling, citing concerns over potential oil spills and environmental degradation.

During Trump's first term, the Interior Department initially proposed to open nearly all U.S. coastal waters to drilling but later imposed a moratorium on drilling off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina due to concerns from local Republicans about the impact on tourism and fishing. Recent legislative efforts by Florida Senators Ashley Moody and Rick Scott aim to codify this moratorium into law, emphasizing the importance of preserving Florida's coastal environment. The implications of the draft plan for drilling in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida and South Carolina remain uncertain, with local officials advocating for the protection of their coastlines.