Florida GOP lawmakers urge Trump to ban oil drilling on state's coastlines

WASHINGTON (AP) Floridas Republican-led congressional delegation is calling on the Trump administration to abandon a proposal that would permit new offshore oil drilling near the states coastlines for the first time in decades.

A letter signed by Republican Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, along with all 28 Florida House members, warns that the Interior Departments plan could threaten the states booming tourism sector and interfere with crucial military training operations.

In 2020, you rightly used executive action to extend the ban on oil and gas leasing off Floridas Gulf and east coasts through 2032, recognizing the immense value our pristine coasts hold for Floridas economy, environment, and military community, the lawmakers stated in their Thursday letter to President Trump.

This appeal marks a rare instance of Florida Republicans pushing back against a Republican president, underscoring the vital economic role the states beaches and coastal waters play. The letter does not directly criticize Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach would remain unaffected by the drilling proposal. Instead, it praises his previous action to halt drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico through 2032, a measure that had strong bipartisan backing.

We urge you to maintain your current moratorium and keep Floridas coasts off-limits for oil and gas leasing. Our states economy, environment, and military readiness rely on this protection, the letter emphasizes.

Last month, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum unveiled a five-year offshore drilling plan that includes new drilling along the coasts of California and Florida, sparking concerns about potential harm to coastal communities and marine ecosystems. The administrations proposal aligns with Trumps broader goal of expanding U.S. oil production and achieving energy dominance.

The oil industry has long sought access to new offshore regions to enhance domestic energy security and create jobs. Federal waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, encompassing offshore Florida and part of Alabama, have been off-limits to drilling since 1995 due to oil spill risks. California still has some offshore rigs, but no new federal leases have been issued since the mid-1980s.

The drilling plan has received criticism from both parties in Florida. A spokesperson for Republican Governor Ron DeSantis urged the administration to reconsider, while Senator Scott stated on X that he is proud to lead Floridas congressional delegation in asking the President to maintain protections for Floridas coasts.

An Interior Department spokeswoman noted that the agency takes all congressional correspondence seriously and carefully evaluates each matter, without commenting further on the letter.

The public can submit feedback on the drilling proposal until late January. The plan includes up to 34 potential offshore lease sales nationwide by 2031, with 21 off Alaska, seven in the Gulf of Mexico, and six along the Pacific coast. Offshore drilling off Florida would occur at least 100 miles from the shore in the newly defined South-Central Gulf region, near existing wells and platforms in the central Gulf of Mexico.

Author: Ava Mitchell