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Florida Republicans Push Back Against Trump Administration’s Offshore Drilling Plan
In a rare show of opposition to the Trump administration, Florida’s Republican-dominated congressional delegation is urging officials to abandon plans that would allow new oil drilling off the state’s coast for the first time in decades.
A letter signed by Republican Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, along with all 28 House members from Florida, warns that the Interior Department’s proposal would threaten Florida’s vital tourism industry and disrupt military training operations in the region.
“In 2020, you made the right decision to use executive action to extend the moratorium on oil and gas leasing off Florida’s Gulf and east coasts through 2032, recognizing the incredible value Florida’s pristine coasts have to our state’s economy, environment and military community,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to President Donald Trump on Thursday.
The bipartisan pushback underscores the critical importance of Florida’s beaches and coastal waters to the state’s economy, which relies heavily on tourism. The state’s coastlines attract millions of visitors annually, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating billions in revenue.
While the letter avoids direct criticism of the president, whose Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach would not be affected by the drilling plan, it represents significant resistance from Republican lawmakers who rarely break ranks with Trump. Instead, they praised his previous decision during his first term to impose a moratorium on drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico through 2032 after similar opposition emerged to an earlier drilling proposal.
“We urge you to uphold your existing moratorium and keep Florida’s coasts off the table for oil and gas leasing. Florida’s economy, environment and military readiness depend on this commitment,” the delegation wrote.
The controversy stems from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s announcement last month of a five-year offshore drilling plan that includes new oil exploration off both California and Florida coasts. Critics argue the plan could harm coastal ecosystems and communities while threatening tourism-dependent economies.
The proposal aligns with Trump’s broader energy strategy to achieve what he terms “energy dominance” in global markets by expanding U.S. oil production. The oil industry has long sought access to these restricted offshore areas, claiming such expansion would enhance American energy security and create jobs.
According to the Interior Department, two lease sales are proposed near Florida, scheduled for 2029 and 2030. Federal waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which includes offshore Florida and part of Alabama, have been protected from drilling since 1995 due to concerns about potential oil spills and their devastating impact on coastal environments.
The backlash has crossed party lines in Florida, with a spokesperson for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis suggesting the Trump administration should reconsider the proposal. Senator Scott emphasized the delegation’s unity on the issue, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that he is “proud to lead Florida’s entire congressional delegation in asking @POTUS to continue his commitment to keeping Florida’s coasts off the table for oil drilling.”
The Interior Department has declined to comment specifically on the congressional correspondence, stating only that they “take all correspondence from Congress seriously and carefully review each matter.”
The department is accepting public comments through late January on the comprehensive drilling plan, which includes up to 34 potential offshore lease sales nationwide by 2031. The proposal encompasses 21 sales off Alaska, seven in the Gulf of Mexico, and six along the Pacific coast.
Under the current proposal, any new drilling off Florida would be positioned at least 100 miles from shore in a newly designated South-Central Gulf region, adjacent to existing oil infrastructure that includes thousands of wells and hundreds of drilling platforms in the central Gulf of Mexico.
Environmental groups and coastal businesses remain concerned that even distant offshore drilling poses significant risks from potential spills that could reach shorelines and damage the state’s pristine beaches that drive its tourism economy.
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14 Comments
The potential impact on tourism and the military are good reasons to maintain the drilling moratorium off Florida’s coasts. Protecting the state’s natural assets should be the priority.
Absolutely. Florida’s economy relies heavily on coastal tourism, so safeguarding those resources is crucial. The bipartisan approach shows how important this issue is.
It’s interesting to see Florida’s Republicans taking a stand against the Trump administration’s offshore drilling proposal. Clearly, the potential impact on the state’s economy and environment is a major concern.
Absolutely. The bipartisan opposition highlights how critical this issue is for Florida. Maintaining the drilling moratorium seems like the best way to safeguard the state’s valuable coastal resources.
The pushback from Florida’s Republicans against offshore drilling plans is a notable development. Preserving the state’s coastal assets is clearly a priority that transcends party lines.
Exactly. When lawmakers from both parties come together on an issue like this, it sends a strong message. Protecting Florida’s beaches and tourism industry is the right call.
It’s good to see Florida’s Republicans pushing back against offshore drilling plans. Protecting the state’s beaches and coastal waters is crucial for tourism and the local economy.
Agreed. The bipartisan opposition highlights how important this issue is for Florida. Maintaining the drilling moratorium seems like the right move.
Interesting to see the Trump administration’s offshore drilling proposal facing resistance even from within the Republican party. Florida’s beaches and environment are clearly a top priority.
Yeah, the letter signed by both senators and all 28 House members sends a strong message. Preserving Florida’s coasts is clearly a unifying issue across party lines.
It’s encouraging to see Florida’s representatives stand up for their state’s interests, even when it means opposing the administration’s energy agenda. Protecting the coasts is the right call here.
Agreed. The bipartisan letter demonstrates the importance of this issue for Florida’s economy and environment. Maintaining the drilling moratorium seems like the prudent decision.
This is a rare case of Republicans pushing back against the Trump administration’s energy policies. Florida’s lawmakers are rightly focused on preserving the state’s valuable coastal environments.
Good point. The opposition cuts across party lines, which makes it a compelling case for the administration to reconsider the offshore drilling plan for Florida.