The Department of the Interior has announced a major change to the country's offshore oil and gas leasing system. They are directing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to end the Biden administration's five-year leasing plan for 2024–2029 and replace it with a new, large-scale 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program by October 2026.

This announcement, made through Secretary's order titled “Unleashing American Offshore Energy,” marks a significant shift in federal energy policy. The new plan includes proposed oil and gas lease sales in Alaska, the Gulf of America, and California.

The proposed plan could include up to 34 lease sales in 21 of the 27 existing Outer Continental Shelf planning areas, covering around 1.27 billion acres. This includes 21 areas off Alaska's coast, seven in the Gulf of America, and six along the Pacific coast.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum stated, “Offshore oil and gas production doesn't happen overnight. It takes years of planning, investment, and hard work before barrels reach the market. The Biden administration stalled offshore oil and gas leasing, disrupting America's offshore production pipeline. By moving forward with a robust leasing plan, we're making sure that America's offshore industry remains strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades.”

The proposal also introduces a new administrative planning area called the South-Central Gulf of America, marking a significant increase compared to what the previous administration referred to as “the smallest offshore leasing plan ever published.”

The five-year program from the Biden administration, finalized in December 2023, included only three lease sales, the lowest number in any five-year plan since leasing began in 1980. All planned sales were in the Gulf region, with none in Alaska or along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the plan, calling it “idiotic.” He stated, “This reckless attempt to sell out our coastline to his Big Oil donors is dead in the water. Californians remember the environmental and economic devastation of past oil spills. For decades, California has stood firm against new offshore drilling, and nothing will change that. We will use every tool available to protect our coastline.” Newsom also pointed out that Trump’s proposal did not include the waters near Mar-a-Lago.

The Trump administration's initiative has involved extensive public input, receiving over 86,000 comments from various stakeholders, including states, industry representatives, and the public, following a request for information published in April 2025. There will be a 60-day public comment period once the proposal is published in the Federal Register on November 24.

Jarrod Agen, Executive Director of the National Energy Dominance Council, emphasized the need for long-term vision and steady policy for offshore oil and gas development. He noted, “For years, confidence was eroded by the Biden Administration's leasing policies. By re-establishing a viable leasing plan, we’re restoring energy security, protecting American jobs, and ensuring our nation leads in energy for decades to come.”

This announcement aligns with BOEM’s Proposed Notice of Sale for Big Beautiful Gulf 2, the second offshore lease sale under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, set for March 11, 2026. This sale will offer about 15,000 unleased blocks covering roughly 80 million acres in the Gulf of America, with blocks located between 3 and 231 miles offshore at depths ranging from 9 feet to over 11,100 feet.

As of September 1, 2025, BOEM is managing 2,073 active offshore oil and gas leases covering around 11.2 million acres. Offshore production currently makes up about 15 percent of domestic oil output. The Outer Continental Shelf is estimated to hold approximately 68.8 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 229 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

This proposal is the first of three to be developed before the final approval of the 2026–2031 program. Including a planning area in this proposal does not ensure it will be part of the final program or offered for lease, as each sale will undergo further review, environmental assessments, and opportunities for public comments.

The first sale in the Big Beautiful Gulf series is scheduled for a public bid reading on December 10, 2025. This sale will feature a royalty rate of 12.5% for both shallow and deepwater leases covering roughly 80 million acres.