The U.S. Interior Department announced Friday that it is opening the public comment process for a new five-year offshore oil and gas leasing program, potentially paving the way for expanded drilling in the Arctic and other previously restricted areas.
The move is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to boost domestic energy production. The new plan could open additional offshore zones to leasing as part of efforts to maximize oil and gas development.
President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to prioritize policies that support increased fossil fuel production, arguing that prior administrations placed unnecessary limits on drilling in the name of environmental protection. He has also reversed former President Joe Biden’s policies that sought to block offshore drilling in the Arctic and large sections of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
The Interior Department’s announcement marks the first formal step toward implementing a revised offshore leasing strategy, which will undergo a period of public input before a final plan is adopted.
By: DNU staff